At a glance
- Mumbai Indians replace injured Mitchell Santner with South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj
- Maharaj brings 191 T20 wickets and strong recent form into IPL 2026
- MI look to revive campaign after 2 wins in 7 matches
Mumbai Indians have acted quickly to reinforce their squad and have signed Keshav Maharaj to replace Mitchell Santner after a left-shoulder injury ruled him out of the remainder of IPL 2026.
Santner Injury Leaves Mumbai Indians Searching for Balance
Santner sustained the injury during Mumbai’s clash against Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium on April 23. The all-rounder hurt his shoulder while attempting a boundary catch and later appeared in the dressing room with an ice pack. He finished the match on the sidelines as Mumbai were forced into a substitute change.
The New Zealand spinner had taken 5 wickets in 4 matches this season at an economy rate of 8.92 before his campaign was cut short. The franchise has extended its support and expressed hope for his swift return to action.
Mumbai Indians Sign Keshav Maharaj to Strengthen Spin Attack
In comes Maharaj, a left-arm spinner with a reputation built on accuracy, discipline and calmness in high-pressure situations. Since making his international debut in 2016, he has become one of South Africa’s most dependable bowlers across formats. His T20I journey began in remarkable fashion when he struck with his very first delivery.
The 34-year-old arrives in solid form, having claimed 31 wickets in his last 30 T20 matches, with best figures of 3 for 15. His overall T20 record stands at 191 wickets from 208 innings, maintained at an impressive economy rate of 7.12.
Experience and Depth Added as MI Aim for Turnaround
Maharaj has played just 2 IPL matches for Rajasthan Royals in 2024, but he has built extensive experience across franchise leagues worldwide. He has featured in the CPL, BPL, SA20 and the Vitality Blast, and earlier this year he led Pretoria Capitals to the SA20 final, finishing with 12 wickets in 12 matches.
Mumbai’s spin attack now looks more rounded, with Maharaj joining options such as AM Ghazanfar, Mayank Markande, Raghu Sharma and all-rounder Will Jacks.
For Mumbai Indians, the timing of this change could prove crucial. The five-time champions have managed just 2 wins in 7 matches and currently sit ninth in the table. They face Sunrisers Hyderabad next at the Wankhede Stadium, where Maharaj could play a key role as Mumbai attempt to turn their season around.
Stay up to date with all the latest ipl content with ReadCricket
