6 months ago
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Shardul Thakur’s homecoming successful the Indian Premier League (IPL) is complete. Mumbai Indians (MI) connected Thursday confirmed the acquisition of Shardul and West Indies’ Sherfane Rutherford successful abstracted trades with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Gujarat Titans (GT), respectively, strengthening their Indian and overseas extent up of the 2026 season.
MI secured Shardul for his existing interest of ₹2 crore, the magnitude LSG had paid to motion him arsenic an wounded replacement during the 2025 season. Born and bred successful Mumbai, Shardul’s instrumentality aligns with MI’s hunt for a seasoned Indian pace-bowling allrounder aft Deepak Chahar’s recruitment did not output the expected returns. With his quality to vessel successful demanding phases and lend little down the order, the 33-year-old fits MI’s requirements perfectly.
With MI’s purse having shrunk further, the duplicate trades besides awesome that the franchise is apt to merchandise immoderate high-value players portion submitting its retention list. The deadline for retentions is November 15, with the auction expected to beryllium held connected December 16 successful Abu Dhabi.
Shardul featured successful 10 games for LSG aft being drafted successful arsenic a replacement for the injured Mohsin Khan. Although helium went unsold successful past year’s auction owed to a precocious basal price, his mid-season inclusion materialised acknowledgment to LSG manager of cricket Zaheer Khan, who erstwhile captained him successful Mumbai cricket. His instrumentality to MI adds to a memorable home play successful which helium is starring Mumbai successful the Ranji Trophy.
MI besides bolstered its overseas seat by bringing successful Sherfane Rutherford from GT, again astatine his existing interest of ₹2.6 crore. The 27-year-old West Indies allrounder has played 44 T20Is and holds the grounds for the highest sixth-wicket concern successful T20Is — a 139-run basal with Andre Russell against Australia successful Perth.
This volition besides beryllium Rutherford’s homecoming to MI arsenic helium wore the golden and bluish successful 2020 but did not get a crippled during his the stint with the five-time champion.
