MI sign Krish Bhagat as injured Atharva Ankolekar's replacement

The Punjab seamer is yet to play T20s, but has impressed the MI management as a support bowler in the build-up to the IPL 2026 season

Mumbai Indians (MI) have signed Krish Bhagat, the 21-year-old Punjab seamer, as a replacement for the injured Atharva Ankolekar. He joins MI at his base price of INR 30 lakh.

Ankolekar, 25, failed to recover in time from the knee injury he picked up during the Ranji Trophy season earlier this year.

Bhagat has trialled with Mumbai Indians for the past two years, and also represented the Reliance team in the DY Patil T20 Cup in 2026. He has been a support bowler at MI since the pre-season of IPL 2026.RelatedMI desperate to find a way out of their bowling mess

For Punjab, Bhagat has played seven first-class games and nine List-A matches. He has nine List A wickets with a best of 3 for 33 that he claimed in December 2025. He also scored 51 from No. 8 in a Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Uttarakhand.

A statement from MI said that Bhagat was selected for the "work ethic" he brings to every training session.

"Krish has consistently impressed the coaching staff with his dedication, work ethic, and the quality he brings to every session and practise games that he played for Mumbai Indians," the franchise's statement read. "His commitment and development over the years, both in domestic and at Mumbai Indians practise sessions this season have earned him this well-deserved opportunity to transition into the main squad."

MI are currently ninth on the IPL 2026 points table with one win and three defeats so far. Their bowling has been a concern this season with Jasprit Bumrah going wicketless and the rest of their attack looking toothless. Other seamers in their squad include the captain Hardik Pandya, Shardul Thakur, Trent Boult, Raj Bawa, Deepak Chahar, Corbin Bosch, Ashwani Kumar and Mohd Izhar