New Zealand all-rounder Mitchell Santner has joined the Mumbai Indians squad in Delhi and is expected to feature in their second match of the IPL 2026 season against the Delhi Capitals on April 4. Santner had missed the Mumbai Indians’ opening game along with England all-rounder Will Jacks, with both players requesting extended time off for personal reasons.
Santner’s arrival provides a timely boost to the Mumbai Indians, who began their campaign with a six-wicket win over the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium. There is still no update on when Jacks will join the squad.
The left-arm spinner and capable batsman adds depth to the Mumbai Indians’ spin attack and strengthens their lower middle order. In their opening match, IPL-2026-mi-beat-kkr-wankhede-rohit-ryan-season-opener-shardul-2888823-2026-03-29″ target=”_blank”>Mumbai chased down 220, with Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton putting on a 148-run opening partnership, underlining the side’s strong batting foundation.
Santner was retained by Mumbai Indians for IPL 2026 after being acquired for Rs 2 crore ahead of the 2025 season. Last season, he played 13 matches, picking up 10 wickets at an economy rate of 7.92, while also contributing 40 runs with the bat. He has prior IPL experience with Chennai Super Kings, where he was part of their 2023 title-winning campaign.
Santner has been a consistent performer for New Zealand in limited-overs cricket. In the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, he captained the side to a runners-up finish, scoring 120 runs at a strike rate of 142.85 and picking up two wickets at an economy rate of 6.60 during the tournament.
Following the World Cup, Santner featured in the first three matches of New Zealand’s T20I series against South Africa before being rested for the final two games, as the team eventually lost the series 3-2.
Mumbai Indians are aiming for their sixth IPL title but have not reached the final since their triumph in 2020. Santner’s inclusion is expected to strengthen the squad as they prepare for the crucial early phase of the tournament.
After facing Delhi Capitals in New Delhi, Mumbai Indians will travel to Guwahati to take on the Rajasthan Royals at the ACA Stadium on Tuesday. The team continues to await the arrival of Will Jacks, whose period of personal leave remains unspecified.
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