February is here! And that means, Aamchi Mumbai is picking up its Blue and Gold heartbeat again. You can see it in the eyes of a daily commuter in the Mumbai local, watching our IPL highlights or cricket nerds at a nearby chaiwaala discussing “yeh season apna hai”. The countdown to the mega event has begun with this ‘February Itch’ as the city slowly wakes up to its favorite time of year.

Whether it is the lights at the Wankhede Stadium beginning to flicker or some hardcore fans digging their cupboards to find आपला lucky jerseys and MI flags, the vibe and the josh are returning. The curiosity is kicking in, be it scrolling through the training reels or making WhatsApp groups to discuss “Match tickets ka scene kya hai?”, “Schedule aaya hai kya?” or “Apan kabhi Wankhede jaa rahe hai?”

It might be six years since we last tasted THAT trophy lifting feeling, but the return of some of our champion blood to the #OneFamily makes the upcoming season much more enticing to watch. Besides the presence of the core MI pillars - ‘Kung Fu’ Pandya, ‘Hitman’ Rohit, ‘Mr. 360’ Surya, ‘Boom Boom’ Bumrah and ‘TV’ Tilak - the Paltan will once again get to feast their eyes on the top order pyrotechnics of Quinton de Kock. QdK - a two-time winner in 2019 and 2020 - will provide the kadak start in the powerplay. Also, bringing the mystery factor to unsettle teams is spinner Mayank Markande.

When it comes to all-round entertainment, the Mumbai Indians have always been at the forefront. Come the 2026 season, MI will look to unleash two powerhouses in Lord Shardul Thakur and Sherfane Rutherford. Bole toh Box Office feelz.

Last but not the least, having that local tadka flavor in an IPL team is always a special asset. And for the Blue and Gold, Atharva Ankolekar is poised to turn his dreams into reality at our Theatre of Dreams - the Wankhede.

So now, as we officially walk into the pre-season mode, every nook and corner of Aamchi Mumbai - be it at the chaiwaala tapri, the vada pav stalls, the train station nakas, the street vendor shops selling jerseys - are gearing up and charging themselves to tap into the #OneFamily spirit.

Taiyaar ho, Paltan? Let’s all make our earth-shaking “Mumbaaaaai, Mumbai" roar resonate inside the Wankhede and turn it back into a fortress again.

March '26, Aala Re!