The rumours turned out to be true as fast bowler Shardul Thakur has officially joined Mumbai Indians via trade deal ahead of IPL 2026 mini auction. The five-time IPL champions confirmed Thakur’s entry
in the franchise via social media post on Thursday, November 13. Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin already had revealed that MI are going rope in Thakur for the upcoming season via trade deal.
However, without much delay, Mumbai Indians themselves confirmed roping in Thakur just a couple of days ahead of the IPL 2026 retentions. Thakur was a part of Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025 after the franchise bought him as a replacement for injured Mohsin Khan at the start of the season. Now, MI have already secured a star fast bowling all-rounder ahead of the auction this year.
Former CSK player Shardul Thakur now set to play for MI
With this trade deal, Shardul Thakur has now become another player who has been a part of both Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians in the IPL. Earlier, players like Ambati Rayudu, Deepak Chahar, Piyush Chawla, Mitchell Santner, Dwayne Bravo, Harbhajan Singh and others have represented both CSK and MI in the past.
Talking about his IPL career, Thakur has played for six different teams so far (PBKS, CSK, DC, KKR, LSG, RPS) since 2015. He played 105 matches in his IPL career so far taking 107 with the balls and scoring 325 runs with the bat. Now, MI will be the seventh franchise for which Thakur will be seen playing in the IPL.
