Mumbai: Mumbai Indians have signed young all-rounder Krish Bhagat as a replacement for the injured Atharva Ankolekar, in a move aimed at strengthening the squad during a challenging phase of the Indian Premier League 2026 season.
The 21-year-old Bhagat, a right-arm medium pacer who can contribute with the bat, joins the team at his base price of ₹30 lakh. He brings with him experience from seven first-class matches and nine List A games, including a half-century in the latter format.
Familiar face in Mumbai setup
Bhagat is not entirely new to the Mumbai Indians environment. He has been part of the franchise’s trials over the past two years and represented the Reliance Team in the DY Patil T20 Cup earlier this year. Additionally, he served as a support bowler during the pre-season, working closely with the squad.
This familiarity is expected to help him integrate quickly into the team setup at a crucial juncture in the tournament.
Gap left by Ankolekar
The absence of Atharva Ankolekar leaves a noticeable gap in Mumbai’s balance. The left-arm spinning all-rounder, who was part of India’s U19 World Cup squad in 2020, had established himself as a dependable utility player.
He also played a key role in India’s triumph at the ACC U19 Asia Cup in 2019, earning Player of the Match honours in the final against Bangladesh.
Struggles continue for Mumbai
Mumbai Indians have endured a difficult run despite beginning their campaign with a win — their first opening-match victory in 13 years. The team has since slipped into a slump, losing three consecutive matches.
Their struggles have been particularly evident in the powerplay, where they have managed only three wickets in the first six overs across four matches. Even leading pacer Jasprit Bumrah, while economical, is yet to pick up a wicket this season. Bowlers like Trent Boult and Hardik Pandya have also found it difficult to make early breakthroughs.
Batting concerns add pressure
The batting unit has struggled to build momentum in the powerplay, placing additional pressure on the middle order. Players like Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma have had to shoulder the responsibility, with inconsistent returns so far.
Tough challenge ahead
Mumbai now face a strong Punjab Kings side led by Shreyas Iyer. Punjab have been among the standout teams this season, recently posting an impressive 93 without loss in the powerplay against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Openers Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya have been in fine form, while the inclusion of Cooper Connolly has further strengthened their batting lineup.
Conclusion
With momentum slipping, Mumbai Indians will be hoping that Krish Bhagat’s inclusion injects fresh energy into the squad. As they look to turn their season around, both team performance and execution will be key in the matches ahead.