Injury Update for Mitchell Santner
New Zealand cricketer Mitchell Santner has been diagnosed with a grade-three ACL tear following an injury to his left shoulder while fielding during the IPL 2026. The all-rounder was playing for the Mumbai Indians in a match against the Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium on April 23 when he dislocated his shoulder, as confirmed by New Zealand Cricket (NZC).
Santner was unable to continue in the game and was substituted out. The following day, it was announced that he would miss the rest of the high-profile T20 tournament. This injury has also affected his international commitments with the BlackCaps.
He will not be participating in the upcoming one-off Test against Ireland, although there’s a chance he could return for the latter part of the series against England.
“The 34-year-old returned home to New Zealand this week and saw a specialist this morning who confirmed a rest and rehabilitation period of at least one month. The diagnosis means Santner is unavailable for the one-off Test against Ireland and the first Test against England, with his availability for the second and third Tests to be evaluated at a later date,” NZC said in a statement on Friday, May 01.
Impact on Mumbai Indians
In the meantime, MI has already found a replacement for Santner for the remainder of the IPL season, bringing in South African spinner Keshav Maharaj to fill the gap. Maharaj has joined the MI squad but hasn’t played in a match yet.
This isn’t the first injury MI has faced this season; they’ve also lost Atharva Ankolekar, and Rohit Sharma is currently recovering from a strain. Rohit might be back for MI’s next game against CSK in Match 44, scheduled for Saturday, May 02, in Chennai. However, the Mumbai franchise hasn’t provided any official updates on his status yet.
Mumbai Indians Squad for IPL 2026
The Mumbai Indians squad for IPL 2026 includes:
- Shardul Thakur
- Sherfane Rutherford
- Mayank Markande
- AM Ghazanfar
- Ashwani Kumar
- Corbin Bosch
- Deepak Chahar
- Hardik Pandya
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Mitchell Santner
- Naman Dhir
- Raghu Sharma
- Raj Bawa
- Robin Minz
- Rohit Sharma
- Ryan Rickelton
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Tilak Varma
- Trent Boult
- Will Jacks
- Quinton de Kock
- Danish Malewar
- Mohammed Salahuddin Izhar
- Atharva Ankolekar
- Mayank Rawat
Recent Developments
The team is working closely with medical staff to ensure that all players are fit for the remaining matches. With several key players sidelined, the focus is on maintaining performance levels while managing the health of the squad.
As the season progresses, fans will be keeping a close eye on the recovery of Santner and other injured players. The team’s ability to adapt and remain competitive despite these challenges will be crucial in their quest for success in the IPL 2026.
