Last Updated on April 16, 2026 by Khabr Bite
The Mumbai Indians have signed the 21-year-old right-handed all-rounder Krish Bhagat to replace the injured Atharva Ankolekar. Bhagat, joining at the base price of ₹30 lakh, will play for the MI in the remaining IPL 2026 matches after his resilience and work ethic won over the franchise.
In a media advisory dated 16 April, the Mumbai Indians confirmed a squad realignment for the remaining Indian Premier League 2026 matches. According to which, MI has ruled out Atharva Ankolekar due to his injury and has scouted Krish Bhagat to play the rest of the IPL 2026.
MI ranked 9th on the table and has lost three matches out of four after winning on their opening day. The team is up against the Punjab Kings on 16 April 2026, right after replacing Ankolekar.
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Why did the Mumbai Indians Replace Atharva Ankolekar?
The Mumbai Indians have replaced the 25-year-old left-arm spinner and defensive batter, Atharva Ankolekar, after his failure to recover from a knee injury sustained in the Ranji Trophy season earlier this year. Ankolekar was bought at the mini-auction but had to be replaced due to injury, while the IPL squad has been struggling on the grounds.
MI has replaced Ankolekar (spinner) with Bhagat (seam-bowling all-rounder) in hopes of finding more pace bowling depth to support Jasprit Bumrah and the team. Also note that Bhagat has trialled with the Mumbai Indians for the past two years and has been a support bowler at MI since the pre-season of IPL 2026.
He also represented the Reliance team in the DY Patil T20 Cup in 2026.
Who is Krish Bhagat?
Krish Bhagat is a 21-year-old right-handed all-rounder who represents Punjab. He comes from a sports and public service family, where his uncle Mohinder Bhagat is an MLA from Jalandhar West.
Bhagat has played seven first-class matches and nine List A matches for them plus he has also registered a half-century in List A cricket. Also, he is known for his work ethic and ability to bowl heavy balls in the middle overs.
MI’s realignment statement also noted his work ethic, as follows:
“Krish has consistently impressed the coaching staff with his dedication, work ethic, and the quality he brings to every session and practice games that he plays for the Mumbai Indians,” the franchise’s statement read. “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.”
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Krish Bhagat Career Stats
First-Class Cricket: In 7 matches, he has taken 7 wickets, with a personal best of 4/52. Along with that, he contributed 145 runs to the team.
List A (One Day): Across 9 matches, he took 9 wickets, with the personal best of 3/33. His batting potential also got highlighted, with him scoring 51 runs against Uttarakhand.
T20 Performance: Bhagat has been featured in 8 T20 Sher-E-Punjab T20 Cup, where he took 8 wickets at a consistent strike rate.
Can Bhagat Reshape the Mumbai Indians’ Hope Amid IPL 2026 Slump?
Bhagat has presented quite a notable performance in his career. His all-rounder capability performance can come in handy for the struggling MI, where not only can he support Jasprit Bumrah, who’s going wicketless this season, but he can also swing the bat at No. 8 or 9.
Also, the team already has Shardul Thakur and Hardik Pandya, but has failed to set the rhythm yet. A new approach to the match with a new “Indian pace-all-rounder” can give them a crucial restart in the upcoming matches.
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Atharva Ankolekar vs. Krish Bhagat: What Changes?
Ankolekar and Bhagat have significant differences in their roles, and this is what the MI likely needed at this point. Experts believe the five-time IPL-winning team is potentially moving from the “spin-containment” to “pace-aggression strategy after conceding 240 runs against RCB at the Wankhede.
Here’s a side-by-side comparison between the two players: –
| Feature | Atharva Ankolekar (Outgoing) | Krish Bhagat (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Role | Left-arm Spin All-rounder | Right-arm Medium-Fast All-rounder |
| Domestic Team | Mumbai | Punjab |
| Major Accolades | India U19 World Cup (2020) squad member; Player of the Match in the 2019 U19 Asia Cup Final. | Rising star in the Punjab domestic circuit; consistent performer in Sher-E-Punjab T20 Cup. |
| Domestic Record | High-utility spinner with international age-group experience. | 7 First-Class & 9 List A matches; recently registered a List A half-century. |
| Key Performance | 5-wicket haul vs Bangladesh in Asia Cup Final (2019). | Career-best 4/52 in First-Class; match-defining 51 runs vs Uttarakhand. |
| Strategic Value | Proven big-match temperament under pressure. | Versatile “hit-the-deck” pace with lower-order hitting power. |
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The Road Ahead
Mumbai Indians are now to play against Punjab Kings on 16 April 2026 at 7:30 PM IST at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Although MI has officially replaced Atharva Ankolekar with Bhagat, he might not feature in this match since the announcement has been made too close to the match.
He is likely to feature in the 20 April 2026 fixture, where MI will play against the Gujarat Titans.
IPL 2026 Points Table
| TEAMS | P | W | L | NR | NRR | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PBKS | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | +1.067 | 9 |
| RCB | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | +1.503 | 8 |
| RR | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | +0.889 | 8 |
| SRH | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | +0.576 | 4 |
| DC | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | +0.322 | 4 |
| GT | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | -0.029 | 4 |
| LSG | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | -0.804 | 4 |
| CSK | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | -0.846 | 4 |
| MI | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | -1.076 | 2 |
| KKR | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | -1.383 | 1 |
