The Indus Zone Tech Desk | Mumbai, November 13, 2025 | Shardul Thakur Joins Mumbai Indians for IPL 2026
In a major pre-auction move ahead of IPL 2026, Mumbai Indians (MI) have officially traded in Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for a fee of RS 2 crore. The Indian Premier League confirmed the trade on Thursday, putting an end to ongoing speculations about discussions between the two franchises.
Thakur Returns Home to Represent Mumbai Indians
Born and raised in Mumbai, Shardul Thakur is set to play for his home franchise once again. The experienced pacer, who also captains Mumbai in domestic cricket, went unsold in the IPL 2025 mega auction but was later picked up by LSG as an injury replacement for the same price.
During his stint with Lucknow, Thakur played 10 matches, claiming 13 wickets, most of them with the new ball. While his bowling impressed, he had a quiet season with the bat, scoring just 18 runs across the tournament.
The move brings Thakur back into familiar territory with the five-time IPL champions, who are looking to strengthen their bowling attack and add experience to their lower order ahead of the 2026 season.
Busy IPL 2026 Trade Window for Franchises
The IPL trade window has been buzzing with activity as teams prepare for the 2026 auction. Apart from Thakur’s move, reports suggest that Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants have also held discussions about Arjun Tendulkar, although no official update has been released yet.
With the player retention deadline set for November 15, franchises are finalizing their squads and exploring last-minute trades to balance their line-ups before the auction.
Sherfane Rutherford Also Traded to Mumbai Indians
In another significant transfer, West Indies all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford has been traded from Gujarat Titans (GT) to Mumbai Indians for his existing contract value of ₹2.6 crore.
Rutherford, 27, has played 44 T20 internationals for the West Indies and is known for his explosive batting. He holds the record for the highest sixth-wicket partnership in T20I history, scoring a 139-run stand with Andre Russell against Australia in Perth.
Having represented Delhi Capitals (2019) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (2022) earlier in his IPL career, Rutherford is familiar with Indian conditions. Though he was part of MI (2020) and Kolkata Knight Riders (2024) squads, he didn’t feature in the playing XI in those seasons.
Mumbai Indians Strengthen Squad for IPL 2026
With the addition of Shardul Thakur and Sherfane Rutherford, Mumbai Indians have made two strategic signings ahead of the next IPL season. The combination of Thakur’s swing bowling and Rutherford’s middle-order power hitting could provide a strong boost to the team’s balance.
As the countdown to the IPL 2026 auction begins, all eyes are on how franchises finalize their retention lists and shape their squads for another thrilling season of cricket.
