Five-time champions Mumbai Indians have moved to reshape their squad for the remainder of the IPL 2026 season, bringing in Mahipal Lomror and Ruchit Ahir as replacement players for Quinton de Kock and Raj Angad Bawa. The duo had been ruled out due to injuries suffered earlier in the campaign, leaving MI to look for fresh options ahead of their final home assignment.
Key takeaways
- Mumbai Indians have signed Mahipal Lomror and Ruchit Ahir as replacements for Quinton de Kock and Raj Angad Bawa for the rest of IPL 2026.
- De Kock injured a tendon in his left wrist before MI’s match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 29.
- Bawa sustained a ligament tear in his right thumb during MI’s contest against Punjab Kings on May 14.
- Lomror, a left-handed batting all-rounder, joins MI for Rs 50 lakh after stints including Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
- Ahir, a wicketkeeper-batter, is set to earn Rs 30 lakh after joining from the Saurashtra setup.
- MI sit ninth in the points table with eight points from 12 matches and are already out of playoff contention, with a home game versus Rajasthan Royals next.
Replacements confirmed after two injury setbacks
Quinton de Kock’s season came to an early halt when he picked up a tendon injury in his left wrist ahead of Mumbai’s April 29 fixture against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Raj Angad Bawa, meanwhile, suffered a ligament tear in his right thumb during the May 14 match against Punjab Kings. Both players appeared in just three matches for MI in IPL 2026 before their injuries ruled them out of the remainder of the season.
Mahipal Lomror and Ruchit Ahir: squad details
Mahipal Lomror, the left-handed batting all-rounder, arrives from Rajasthan where he developed his reputation before moving through IPL franchises. He has played 40 IPL matches in total and has previously represented Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He was also included in the Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans squads earlier in his IPL career, though he did not take the field for either side. Now, Lomror is set to join Mumbai Indians for Rs 50 lakh.
Ruchit Ahir, aged 25, is a wicketkeeper-batter from Saurashtra. His domestic record includes 16 List A matches and 12 T20 appearances. The franchise has confirmed that Ahir will be part of the MI squad on a Rs 30 lakh deal. Mumbai’s decision was influenced by the pre-season DY Patil T20 Cup 2026, where Ahir featured for the Reliance team and impressed enough for coaches and management to track him closely. “Mumbai Indians are pleased to welcome both players to the squad,” the franchise stated.
Where MI stand and what’s next at Wankhede
Mumbai Indians are currently positioned ninth in the points standings, having collected eight points from 12 games. With their playoff hopes already extinguished, the side will aim for a strong finish in front of the home crowd at the Wankhede Stadium. They take on Rajasthan Royals on Sunday afternoon.
However, the equation is unforgiving: if MI register yet another loss, they will be left facing the embarrassment of finishing at the bottom of the IPL 2026 table.
