After several seasons of gradual expansion, the I-League announced that its 2nd Division would incorporate the reserve sides of seven of the ten ISL sides for the 2017–18 season, with no right of promotion for the ISL reserve sides. Mumbai City FC elected not take up the opportunity and were one of the three sides not represented.[3] Two years later, Mumbai City were announced to be entering a team in the 2019–20 competition.[4] In 2022, AIFF and FSDL the governing body of Indian Super League announced that they are introducing a new development league to develop country's young players and it was said that the reserve side of each Indian Super League club will participate in this newly introduced reserve league.[5] From 2021 to 2022 season, the reserve side of Mumbai City participates in this league.[6]