Mumbai Indians have brought in Krish Bhagat as a replacement for the injured Atharva Ankolekar, a move that comes at a crucial time as they look to revive their IPL 2026 campaign.
Bhagat, a 21-year-old all-rounder from Punjab, joins the squad at his base price of Rs 30 lakh. A right-arm medium pacer who can contribute with the bat in the lower order, he has featured in seven first-class matches and nine List A games. He also has a half-century in List A cricket, highlighting his ability to chip in with the bat.
The youngster is no stranger to the Mumbai setup. He has been part of the franchise’s trials over the past two years and represented the Reliance Team in the DY Patil T20 Cup earlier this year. Bhagat also worked closely with the squad as a support bowler during the pre-season, which should help him slot into the side with relative ease.
Ankolekar’s absence leaves a gap in Mumbai’s balance. The left-arm spinning all-rounder, who was part of India’s U19 World Cup squad in 2020, had built a reputation as a reliable utility option. He also played a key role in India’s ACC U19 Asia Cup triumph in 2019, earning Player of the Match honours in the final against Bangladesh.
Mumbai’s decision to bring in Bhagat comes amid a challenging phase in their campaign. Despite starting the season with a win for the first time in 13 years, they have since slipped into a slump with three consecutive defeats. Execution, rather than personnel, has been a recurring concern.
Their struggles in the powerplay have been particularly glaring. In four matches, Mumbai have managed just three wickets in the first six overs, including a rain-affected game against Rajasthan Royals. While Jasprit Bumrah has been economical, he is yet to pick up a wicket this season. The likes of Trent Boult and Hardik Pandya have also struggled to make early inroads.
The batting unit has not fared much better. A lack of intent in the powerplay has left the middle order, including Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma, with too much to do. While Suryakumar has managed a half-century, Tilak’s returns have been modest.
They now face a tough test against a confident Punjab Kings side led by Shreyas Iyer. Punjab have been among the standout teams this season, recently posting a blistering 93 without loss in the powerplay against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Openers Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya have been in fine form, while the addition of Cooper Connolly has strengthened their batting.
With momentum against them, Mumbai will hope Bhagat’s arrival injects fresh energy into a side searching for answers.
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Player Stats | Purple Cap | Orange Cap | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
– Ends
Tune In
