Mumbai Indians have added a new player to their IPL 2026 squad just before their match against Punjab Kings.
The team has signed 21-year-old Krish Bhagat as a replacement for injured Atharva Ankolekar. This move comes at an important time as MI deal with injuries and a busy schedule.
Who is Krish Bhagat?
Krish Bhagat is a young all-rounder from Punjab. He is a right-arm medium pacer and can also bat in the middle order.
He does not have much experience yet but has shown good potential in domestic cricket.
| Format | Matches |
|---|---|
| First-Class | 7 |
| List A | 9 |
In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he performed well in a few games.
| Performance | Details |
|---|---|
| Batting | 51 runs in one match |
| Bowling | 3 wickets for 33 runs |
These performances show that he can contribute in both departments.
Atharva Ankolekar Injury Update
Atharva Ankolekar has been ruled out of IPL 2026 due to injury.
He suffered a meniscus tear during a Ranji Trophy match earlier this year and had to undergo surgery.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Injury | Meniscus tear |
| Status | Ruled out of IPL 2026 |
| Auction Price | INR 30 lakh |
Ankolekar was a promising player and had earlier impressed in U-19 cricket, including a Player of the Match performance in the Asia Cup final.
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Mumbai Indians Squad 2026
Here is a look at the MI squad for IPL 2026.
| Player |
|---|
| Hardik Pandya |
| Rohit Sharma |
| Suryakumar Yadav |
| Jasprit Bumrah |
| Trent Boult |
| Quinton de Kock |
| Tilak Varma |
| Shardul Thakur |
| Deepak Chahar |
| Will Jacks |
| Ryan Rickelton |
| Sherfane Rutherford |
| Naman Dhir |
| Raj Angad Bawa |
| Robin Minz |
| Mayank Markande |
| Raghu Sharma |
| Corbin Bosch |
| Ashwani Kumar |
| AM Ghazanfar |
| Danish Malewar |
| Mayank Rawat |
| Mohammad Izhar |
| Krish Bhagat |
The squad includes a mix of experienced players and young talents.
What This Means for MI
The addition of Krish Bhagat gives Mumbai Indians more options.
- Adds depth in bowling and batting
- Useful as an all-rounder
- Can be used in different match situations
- Helps manage player workload
This move shows that MI are planning carefully for the long tournament.
Impact on PBKS vs MI Match
Krish Bhagat may not play immediately, but his inclusion gives MI flexibility.
Tonight’s match against Punjab Kings is important, and MI will look to perform strongly despite injury concerns in the squad.
Final Thoughts
Mumbai Indians have made a smart move by adding a young all-rounder to their squad.
Krish Bhagat now has a big opportunity to prove himself on a big stage. Fans will be excited to see how he performs if he gets a chance in IPL 2026.
