Mumbai Indians Secure Shardul Thakur in Significant IPL Trade
The Mumbai Indians franchise has officially announced the acquisition of all-rounder Shardul Thakur for the upcoming 2026 Indian Premier League season. The five-time champions confirmed this major trade development on Thursday through their social media channels, marking another strategic move in their team-building process.
Trade Details and Announcement
Mumbai Indians made the official announcement on social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, sharing a special video featuring Thakur. The post carried the message: "Trade in, ???? ?????? incoming," generating significant excitement among the MI fanbase. This trade confirmation comes after prolonged discussions between Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants, as previously reported by TimesofIndia.com.
The trade negotiations had been ongoing for some time, with both franchises working to finalize the details. LSG had been in active discussions with MI regarding Thakur's transfer, and the official confirmation now puts an end to all speculation about the player's future in the tournament.
Thakur's IPL Journey and Performance
Shardul Thakur's IPL career has been quite remarkable in terms of franchise representation. Mumbai Indians will become the seventh IPL franchise that Thakur has represented in his career, showcasing his experience and value across multiple teams. His previous stints include Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), Rising Pune Supergiant, Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders, Lucknow Super Giants, and Chennai Super Kings.
Notably, Thakur had a significant five-year stint with Chennai Super Kings, where he established himself as a reliable all-rounder. In the most recent IPL 2025 season, Thakur took 13 wickets in 10 matches for Lucknow Super Giants, including an impressive four-wicket haul. However, he finished with an economy rate of 11.02, an area he'll likely look to improve with his new franchise.
Interestingly, Thakur went unsold in last year's IPL auction held in Jeddah but later joined Lucknow Super Giants as a replacement for Mohsin Khan at his base price of Rs 2 crore. This makes his move to Mumbai Indians even more significant, as it represents a substantial career progression.
IPL Calendar and Current Commitments
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has scheduled the next IPL auction for December 15-16 in Abu Dhabi. Ahead of this crucial event, the BCCI will officially announce all player transfers alongside the list of player retentions and releases on Saturday, providing a complete picture of team compositions before the auction.
Meanwhile, Shardul Thakur is currently leading Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy this season, demonstrating his leadership capabilities and maintaining his match fitness ahead of the IPL 2026 season. This domestic experience could prove valuable as he transitions into the Mumbai Indians setup.
This trade represents a strategic move by Mumbai Indians to strengthen their bowling all-rounder options ahead of the new season. Thakur's experience across multiple franchises and his proven wicket-taking ability make him a valuable addition to the MI squad as they aim to reclaim the IPL trophy.
