South African spin-bowling all-rounder Keshav Maharaj has been drafted into the Mumbai Indians squad for the rest of IPL 2026, replacing New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner. Santner’s participation has been ruled out after he suffered a left-shoulder injury during the team’s most recent outing at Wankhede Stadium against Chennai Super Kings.
Quick facts
- Keshav Maharaj replaces Mitchell Santner for the remainder of IPL 2026.
- Santner is sidelined with a left shoulder injury.
- The injury occurred during MI’s previous home match vs Chennai Super Kings at Wankhede.
- Maharaj joins MI as an experienced left-arm spinner.
- Maharaj previously played IPL for Rajasthan Royals in 2024.
- Maharaj’s reported signing fee is INR 75 lakh.
- MI’s next match is against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday.
Maharaj comes in as a like-for-like spin option after featuring in the recent T20I series against New Zealand. The move also brings back a familiar IPL face for MI, with Maharaj having appeared in two matches earlier in the league, representing Rajasthan Royals during the 2024 season.
The replacement fee for Maharaj is set at INR 75 lakh. The IPL announcement confirmed the transaction as part of MI’s squad management for the remainder of the tournament.
Details of Santner’s injury were linked to a moment in the CSK game at Wankhede. Santner took a sharp diving catch to remove Kartik Sharma off Jasprit Bumrah, but the same effort resulted in the shoulder and his head making contact with the ground.
After the incident, Santner was replaced by Shardul Thakur as a concussion substitute in the match. MI’s head coach Jayawardene later explained that the player had been taken for scans after he returned and reported feeling unwell.
Jayawardene on the scans
Jayawardene said he believed Santner’s head impacted first, with the neck and shoulder affected as well. He added that once Santner got back, dizziness prompted the medical assessment, and that while ice was used for the shoulder, the lack of stability led to further checks.
MI now turn their attention to their next fixture, with the franchise scheduled to play Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday. With Santner unavailable, Maharaj’s arrival is expected to strengthen MI’s spin department for the remaining stretch of IPL 2026.
