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Krish Bhagat Joins Mumbai Indians, Replaces Injured Atharva Ankolekar in IPL 2026

The Mumbai Indians have announced Krish Bhagat as a replacement for the injured Atharva Ankolekar for the remainder of the IPL 2026 season. The 21-year-old all-rounder from Punjab, who has been with the team in a support role, joins the main squad at his base price. Ankolekar, a former U19 World Cup player, has been ruled out of the tournament. The struggling MI, led by Hardik Pandya, will next face the Punjab Kings at the Wankhede Stadium.

Key Points: Mumbai Indians Name Krish Bhagat as Replacement for Atharva Ankolekar

  • Krish Bhagat replaces injured Atharva Ankolekar
  • Bhagat is a 21-year-old all-rounder from Punjab
  • He joins at his base price of Rs 30 Lakh
  • MI are ninth with one win in four matches
2 min read

IPL 2026: Krish Bhagat joins Mumbai Indians squad, replaces Atharva Ankolekar

Mumbai Indians sign all-rounder Krish Bhagat for IPL 2026 after Atharva Ankolekar is ruled out. Get squad updates and match preview.

"Krish has consistently impressed the MI coaching staff with his dedication, work ethic, and the quality he brings - Mumbai Indians Press Release"

Mumbai, April 16

The Mumbai Indians have named Krish Bhagat as a replacement for Atharva Ankolekar, who has been ruled out of the Indian Premier League 2026.

Krish Bhagat, the 21-year-old right-handed all-rounder who represents Punjab, brings versatility to the MI squad as a right-arm fast bowler and can contribute with the bat as a lower-order batsman.

Krish was part of the Mumbai Indians trials for the past couple of years, having played for the Reliance Team in the DY Patil T20 cup in 2026 and has been a support bowler with the team since pre-season this year.

Ankolekar, the left-arm spin all-rounder, was part of India's U19 World Cup team in 2020 and was also the Player of the Match in the final of the ACC U19 Asia Cup against Bangladesh in 2019.

Bhagat joins MI at his base price of Rs 30 Lakh.

According to a press release from the franchise, Krish has consistently impressed the MI coaching staff with his dedication, work ethic, and the quality he brings to every session and practice games that he played for the Mumbai Indians. His commitment and development over the years, both in domestic and at Mumbai Indians practice sessions this season, have earned him this well-deserved opportunity to transition into the main squad.

The Hardik Pandya-led MI currently stand at ninth place in the points table with only one win in four matches this season. After winning their first match of the season, the five-time champions suffered a hat-trick of losses.

Now, the Mumbai Indians will host the Punjab Kings for their next IPL game at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Sad to hear about Atharva Ankolekar being ruled out. He was a promising talent from our U19 World Cup winning batch. Wishing him a speedy recovery. Meanwhile, welcome Krish Bhagat! Hope he proves to be a valuable asset.
A
Aman W
Base price of 30 lakh only? That's a steal for MI if this guy performs. They need a bowling all-rounder badly. But honestly, the problem is not the players, it's the team management and strategy. Four matches, three losses... something is seriously wrong.
S
Sarah B
Interesting to see a player from Punjab joining Mumbai Indians, especially before the match against Punjab Kings! The IPL truly is a melting pot of talent from across India. Best of luck to the young man.
V
Vikram M
MI's scouting is always top-notch. If they've kept him in trials for years and he's impressed the coaches, he must have something special. We need someone to support Bumrah in the pace department. Hope he gets his debut at the Wankhede!
K
Kriti O
As a cricket fan, I appreciate that the article gives context about both players. It's not just about the replacement, but also acknowledging what Ankolekar achieved. Respectful reporting. Now, MI, please win some matches! 😅

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