Mumbai Indians eye Mayank Markande reunion and Shardul Thakur trade for IPL 2026 revival
Mumbai Indians (MI) are planning to bolster their bowling department ahead of IPL 2026. They are reportedly hoping to reunite with spinner Mayank Markande and are also in talks with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for a trade involving him and Arjun Tendulkar. MI is also looking to acquire experienced all-rounder Shardul Thakur from LSG.
Markande, who was part of MI's title-winning squads in 2019 and 2020, has fallen out of favor in recent seasons. He did not play a single game last season under captain Ajinkya Rahane. MI is hoping that a move to the side could aid in his search for more game time, as he is currently behind Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy in the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ranks.
MI has been struggling with spin bowling, relying on veterans Piyush Chawla and Karn Sharma in recent seasons. The team is looking to strengthen their domestic bowling depth and free up slots for new auction strategies ahead of IPL 2026. If the reported deals go through, MI will lose another 2.3 crore from their purse for the IPL 2026 Auction. MI and KKR are reportedly in talks for a cash swap trade involving Markande, with KKR having bought him for 30 lakh.
MI's plans for IPL 2026 include reuniting with Markande, acquiring Thakur from LSG, and potentially trading Tendulkar. These moves aim to enhance the squad's balance and strengthen the bowling department, setting the stage for a strong performance in the upcoming season.
