Mitchell Santner has been ruled out of Mumbai Indians’ clash with Rajasthan Royals on Tuesday, April 7, after a right-shoulder niggle flared up during the previous match. The left-arm spinning all-rounder picked up the issue while fielding against Delhi Capitals, and it has been enough for him to miss the Royals encounter.
Quick facts
- Mitchell Santner sat out MI vs RR on Tuesday, April 7.
- The reason was a niggle in his right shoulder sustained while fielding vs Delhi Capitals.
- He injured the shoulder in the 14th over while trying to save a boundary at Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi.
- Santner did not bowl in the Delhi Capitals game after the injury.
- Mahela Jayawardene said Santner was not fully ready and was rested as a precaution.
- With Santner unavailable, Mumbai made three changes from the XI that lost to Delhi Capitals.
- Hardik Pandya’s return also reshaped selection, with Trent Boult getting a spot.
- Corbin Bosch and Mayank Markande were replaced.
- AM Ghazanfar came in for Santner and recorded 2-21 in two overs.
- Rajasthan Royals won by 27 runs, extending MI’s poor start with a second straight defeat in three games.
- Will Jacks is still yet to join the squad, Jayawardene confirmed.
In Delhi Capitals’ innings, Santner’s injury occurred in the 14th over when he attempted to prevent a boundary. He dived to make the save, but the right shoulder took the impact, and he was unable to bowl for the remainder of that match.
After Mumbai’s loss to Rajasthan in Guwahati, head coach Mahela Jayawardene explained the call to keep Santner out. Jayawardene said Santner had carried a small niggle when he came off in the earlier game, and that the decision was made to avoid pushing him before he was fully prepared.
“Mitch, in the last game, had a little niggle when he came off,” Jayawardene said. “As a precaution, he wasn’t a hundred percent ready to play this game. Hopefully, he will be fit for our next game.”
That precautionary approach is unlikely to have pleased the Mumbai management, considering Santner was already dealing with the discomfort on a shoulder that he would not be bowling with, yet still had to be monitored closely. With him missing the Royals match, the franchise had to adjust its lineup significantly from the side that suffered defeat against Delhi Capitals.
Three changes and a reshaped XI
Mumbai Indians made three changes to the team that lost to Delhi. Two of the alterations were connected to selection rhythm as Hardik Pandya returned to the XI, which in turn allowed Trent Boult to slot into the playing group. In that reshuffle, Corbin Bosch and Mayank Markande were the players who made way.
With Santner unavailable, AM Ghazanfar was handed the opportunity. Ghazanfar delivered an economical spell in limited time, returning figures of 2-21 in two overs. It was also a tough outing for Mumbai in the match context, with Royals putting them on the back foot as they were dismissed for 150 for 3 in only 11 overs, a pace that allowed Rajasthan to dominate the contest.
Rajasthan Royals ultimately secured the win by 27 runs, handing Mumbai their second consecutive defeat in three matches so far in the season. The result further underlined how disruptive Santner’s absence was to Mumbai’s balance, particularly in the role he would have provided with his bowling option.
Jayawardene also addressed the status of another overseas all-rounder, Will Jacks, noting that he has not yet joined the squad. “Will still hasn’t joined the squad, we are hoping he will join pretty soon,” the head coach said.
