Mumbai Indians announce injury replacement for Atharva Ankolekar

Mumbai Indians (MI) have roped in Krish Bhagat as the injury replacement for their spin-bowling allrounder Atharva Ankolekar for IPL 2026. Bhagat, 21, is a seam bowling allrounder who plays for Punjab in the domestic circuit. He joins the five-time IPL champions at his base price of INR 30 lakhs.

Bhagat played for the Reliance Team in the DY Patil T20 Cup in 2026 and has trialled with the Hardik Pandya-led side for the last couple of seasons. He has been one of the support bowlers for MI since the pre-IPL 2026 season.

Bhagat has played seven first-class games for Punjab, claiming as many wickets at an average of 36.00, including a four-wicket haul (4/52).

He has also claimed nine wickets in as many List A games at an average of 29.55 and an economy rate of 6.11.

Bhagat has scored 145 runs in the first-class circuit at 18.12 and 52 runs in List A cricket at an average of 17.33, including a half-century.

"Krish has consistently impressed the coaching staff with his dedication, work ethic, and the quality he brings to every session and practise games that he played for Mumbai Indians," Mumbai Indians' statement read. "His commitment and development over the years, both in domestic and at Mumbai Indians practise sessions this season have earned him this well-deserved opportunity to transition into the main squad."

Ankolekar was a part of India's squad that participated in the ICC Men's U19 World Cup 2020 in South Africa. The 25-year-old allrounder failed to recover from the knee injury he suffered during Mumbai's Ranji Trophy 2025-26 campaign.

Mumbai Indians updated squad for IPL 2026

Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Shardul Thakur, Trent Boult, Mayank Markande, Jasprit Bumrah, Sherfane Rutherford, Corbin Bosch, Ashwani Kumar, Raghu Sharma, Raj Bawa, Deepak Chahar, AM Ghazanfar, Robin Minz, Quinton de Kock, Will Jacks, Mayank Rawat, Krish Bhagat, Danish Malewar, Mohammed Salahuddin Izhar

Support Staff: Mahela Jayawardene, Kieron Pollard, Jagadeesh Arunkumar, Lasith Malinga, Carl Hopkinson