Shardul Thakur in Mumbai Indians becomes official after R Ashwin confirmed the deal. The all-rounder moves from Lucknow Super Giants before IPL 2026 starts. This trade could change MI’s fortunes after struggling for five seasons.
Ashwin Breaks the News
Former Indian spinner R Ashwin revealed the MI-LSG Trade on his YouTube channel. Shardul Thakur in Mumbai Indians gives them a quality all-rounder. The five-time champions haven’t won since 2020 and need fresh blood.
MI reached the playoffs last season after strong performances throughout. But they lost in Qualifier 2 and went home disappointed. The team knows they need better players to win titles again.
Shardul Thakur grabbed 13 wickets in 10 matches for LSG last season. His bowling at death overs helped Lucknow win tight matches regularly. Now, MI gets those skills for its own benefit here.
Perfect Wankhede Specialist
Shardul Thakur in Mumbai Indians makes perfect sense for home matches. He’s taken 16 wickets in 17 games at Wankhede Stadium already. This ground knowledge gives MI a real advantage over visiting teams.
The MI-LSG Trade solves Mumbai’s backup bowler problem too importantly. Deepak Chahar keeps getting injured at the wrong times. Shardul provides reliable cover when Chahar sits out matches injured.
Ashwin pointed out this backup angle during his YouTube discussion clearly. Smart teams always plan for injuries before they happen. MI learned this lesson the hard way in previous seasons.
Seventh Team for Thakur
MI will be Thakur’s other IPL franchise in his career. He’s played for Punjab Kings, Chennai Super Kings, and Delhi Capitals before. These experiences make him ideal for any team setting quickly.
MI won’t release any major players before the IPL 2026 auction. They want to keep their core group together this time. The focus shifts to finding quality spinners at the auction.
Shardul Thakur in Mumbai Indians adds depth to their bowling attack. His batting skills down the order help too when needed. The MI-LSG Trade looks good for both teams involved here.
