Mumbai Indians have turned to South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj after Mitchell Santner was ruled out of the remainder of IPL 2026 with a damaged shoulder.
Santner jarred the joint while back-pedalling on the boundary during Saturday night’s meeting with Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede. The left-armer left the field clutching his right shoulder, an ice-pack soon strapped on while a concussion substitute covered his spot. Subsequent scans confirmed that the joint needs several weeks of rest. Santner’s brief campaign ends on five wickets from four outings at 8.92 runs per over.
Head coach Mark Boucher admitted the news landed “at exactly the wrong time”, adding in a media release: “We needed a spinner who can hold an end and guide the younger lads. Kesh fits that brief.”
Maharaj, 36 next month, has played only twice in the IPL – both games for Rajasthan Royals in 2024 – yet his wider résumé is solid: 54 T20Is for South Africa and stints in the CPL, BPL, Vitality Blast, SA20 and the old Mzansi Super League. Earlier this year he captained Pretoria Capitals to the SA20 final, finishing with 12 wickets in as many matches at 7.12 runs per over.
“It’s mid-season but I’m ready,” Maharaj said in the franchise statement. “The body’s good and the mind’s fresh. I’ve watched Mumbai from afar and can’t wait to contribute.”
Former India off-spinner Murali Karthik, on host-broadcaster duty, offered a measured endorsement: “Keshav isn’t a mystery spinner, he’s a control bowler. On the Wankhede surface that can be just as valuable, especially if the quicks are travelling.”
Maharaj slots into a spin group featuring Mayank Markande, teenager AM Ghazanfar and leg-break bowler Raghu Sharma, with all-rounder Will Jacks providing part-time off-spin. None has yet nailed down the middle-overs role, a key reason Mumbai have slipped to ninth with two wins from seven.
For Santner the injury is a setback but not a season-ender back home. New Zealand medical staff expect him to resume bowling within six weeks, leaving him free for the winter tours. “Frustrating, obviously,” he told team-mates in the dressing room, “but the lads will crack on.”
Mumbai’s next assignment is Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday, again at the Wankhede. A victory would lift them, briefly at least, into the chasing pack.
