Mumbai Indians Rope in Thakur and Rutherford in Strategic Trades
The Mumbai Indians (MI) have made significant moves in the trading window, securing the services of Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur and Caribbean power-hitter Sherfane Rutherford ahead of the much-anticipated IPL 2026 auction. In a parallel development, young pacer Arjun Tendulkar has parted ways with the franchise, moving to the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
Shardul Thakur's IPL Journey: A Look at the Trade
Shardul Thakur joins the Mumbai Indians from Lucknow Super Giants for his existing player fee of ₹2 crore. This marks a historic third trade in Thakur's IPL career, a record for the league. He was initially traded in IPL 2017 when Rising Pune Supergiant acquired him from Kings XI Punjab. Later, before the IPL 2023 auction, he was purchased by Kolkata Knight Riders from Delhi Capitals. Both previous deals were all-cash transactions.
Thakur's performance in the last season was a mixed bag. While he started strong for LSG, picking up six wickets in his first two matches, his form dipped as the tournament progressed. He finished IPL 2025 with 13 wickets from 10 matches, conceding runs at an economy rate of 11.02.
Sherfane Rutherford's Homecoming and Arjun's New Opportunity
For Sherfane Rutherford, this move is a return to familiar territory. The hard-hitting batter was part of the MI setup back in 2020, though he did not get a game that season. After stints with Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and most recently, the Gujarat Titans, this will be his fourth IPL team. Rutherford had a productive season with GT in IPL 2025, scoring 291 runs in 13 matches at an impressive strike rate of 157.29 and an average of 32.22.
In a separate deal reported by ESPNCricinfo, Arjun Tendulkar has been traded from Mumbai Indians to Lucknow Super Giants. The left-arm pacer, who was bought by MI in the 2021 auction for ₹20 lakh and made his debut in 2023, has been released to seek more playing opportunities with the Lucknow-based franchise.
These strategic trades indicate Mumbai Indians' intent to build a balanced and powerful squad as they prepare for the next chapter of the Indian Premier League.
