Mumbai Indians have moved to bolster their bowling unit by signing South Africa left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, with the franchise forced to react after Mitchell Santner was ruled out of IPL 2026 due to a shoulder injury.
Key takeaways
- MI brought in Keshav Maharaj following Mitchell Santner’s shoulder setback that ended his IPL 2026 run.
- Santner managed five wickets in four matches this season, maintaining an economy rate of 8.92.
- The injury occurred while Santner went for a boundary catch against Chennai Super Kings at Wankhede Stadium.
- Maharaj previously featured in the IPL for Rajasthan Royals in 2024, appearing in two matches.
- MI are currently placed ninth after winning two of seven games and will face Sunrisers Hyderabad next at Wankhede on Wednesday.
How Santner’s injury happened
Mitchell Santner recorded five wickets across four appearances at an economy rate of 8.92 during the current season. His shoulder problem surfaced when he attempted a catch at the boundary against Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium. During the chase, he was seen in the dressing room with an ice pack applied to his shoulder, and MI had to use a concussion replacement for him.
Maharaj’s IPL background and wider franchise experience
Keshav Maharaj has 54 T20 international caps for South Africa and has already tasted IPL action twice before, representing Rajasthan Royals in 2024. Outside the IPL, he has built a career in multiple franchise tournaments, having played in the CPL, the BPL, and England’s Vitality Blast, along with stints in SA20 and the former Mzansi Super League.
In the latest SA20 campaign, Maharaj captained Pretoria Capitals to the final and concluded the season with 12 wickets from as many matches. Over his T20 career, he has taken 191 wickets in 208 innings, maintaining an economy rate of 7.12.
MI’s squad balance and next match
With Maharaj joining the group, MI’s spin options now also feature AM Ghazanfar, Mayank Markande, and Raghu Sharma, in addition to allrounder Will Jacks.
MI have had a tough start in IPL 2026, winning only two of their seven games and sitting ninth on the points table. Their next assignment is against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday.
