Mumbai Indians have made a blockbuster trade for IPL 2026, officially confirming the acquisition of all-rounder Shardul Thakur from Lucknow Super Giants.
Five-time champions Mumbai surprised fans on Thursday by sharing a video on social media. This news is creating a stir among IPL fans, as Shardul is referred to as “Lord.”
Shardul Thakur IPL journey
Talks of a trade were already underway, as reported by the Times of India. Lucknow acquired Shardul at a base price of ₹2 crore (approximately $1.5 million) as a replacement for Mohsin Khan after he went unsold in the Jeddah auction.
In IPL 2025, he took 13 wickets in 10 matches, including four in one match. His economy rate was 11.02.
Mumbai posted a video on X,
Shardul will now play for his seventh IPL team. Previously, he was with Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), Rising Pune Supergiant, Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders, Lucknow Supergiants, and Chennai Super Kings. He spent five years in Chennai.
Mumbai captain Hardik Pandya has likely been eyeing him for a long time, as his all-round skills would strengthen the team in both batting and bowling.
Preparations for IPL 2026
The auction for the next IPL season will be held in Abu Dhabi on December 15-16. The BCCI will release the list of all transfers, retentions, and releases on Saturday.
This will be a month-long update, allowing franchises to formulate their strategies. Mumbai already looks strong under Hardik’s leadership, and Shardul’s arrival will make their bowling attack even more lethal.
Shardul is currently leading Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy. His form is showing promising signs for the IPL.
Trades are expected following the BCCI announcement, such as Arjun Tendulkar’s new home or Mayank Markande’s deal with KKR. This IPL season has already heated up.
