The Mumbai Indians have officially announced the signing of Krish Bhagat to replace Atharva Ankolekar, who is unable to participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Bhagat, a 21-year-old all-rounder from Punjab, adds depth to the MI lineup as a right-arm fast bowler and a lower-order batsman. He has been involved with the Mumbai Indians trials for the last few years and played for the Reliance Team in the DY Patil T20 Cup earlier this year, also serving as a support bowler during the pre-season.

Ankolekar, known for his left-arm spin and all-round capabilities, was a member of India's U19 World Cup squad in 2020. He notably earned the Player of the Match title in the final of the ACC U19 Asia Cup against Bangladesh in 2019.

Bhagat joins the Mumbai Indians at a base price of Rs 30 Lakh. The franchise's press release highlighted that he has consistently impressed the coaching staff with his dedication and performance during practice sessions. His hard work and growth in both domestic cricket and MI's training sessions have paved the way for this significant opportunity.

Currently, the Hardik Pandya-led Mumbai Indians are positioned ninth in the points table, having secured only one victory out of four matches this season. After a promising start with a win, the five-time champions faced three consecutive losses. Their next IPL match will be against the Punjab Kings at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday.