Mumbai Indians Name Punjab’s Krish Bhagat as Atharva Ankolekar’s Replacement

Mumbai Indians have signed 21-year-old Punjab all-rounder Krish Bhagat to take the place of the injured Atharva Ankolekar in their IPL 2026 squad.

Why the change

Ankolekar, a 25-year-old from Mumbai, was bought at the latest mini auction for his base price of INR 30 lakh. He suffered an injury setback without playing a single match.

Who is Bhagat

Bhagat has not yet appeared in a professional T20 game, but MI know him well. He played for the Reliance Team in the DY Patil T20 Cup 2026 and worked with the franchise in pre-season nets as a support bowler.

In domestic cricket he has turned out for Punjab since making his debut in 2024, with seven First-Class matches and nine List A games to his name. Last year he scored a List A half-century against Uttarakhand in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

The club’s verdict

In an official statement, Mumbai said Bhagat had earned the move through steady performances in training and practice games. They said he had regularly impressed the coaching staff with his dedication and work ethic, and that his progress in domestic cricket and in MI sessions had brought him this opportunity.

The franchise has a record of developing young players, among them Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya. If Bhagat makes a good impression, he could be in line for an IPL debut this season.