The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 trading window has accelerated rapidly as franchises rush to finalize their strategic squads ahead of the imminent retention deadline this month. Five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) executed three major deals, securing experienced all-rounders Shardul Thakur and Sherfane Rutherford via all-cash transactions designed to inject proven talent into key areas.

In a separate, yet , trade, MI allowed the departure of left-arm pacer Arjun Tendulkarwho moves to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) These strategic reshuffles represent the crucial squad balancing acts taking place across the league, highlighting the proactive efforts of MI and LSG just weeks before the mega-auction in Abu Dhabi.

IPL 2026: Mumbai Indians (MI) secure Shardul Thakur and Sherfane Rutherford

MI successfully executed a targeted strategy to acquire two experienced all-rounders, securing much-needed depth and versatility through two significant one-way all-cash trade deals. The five-time champions first secured the services of India all-rounder Shardul Thakur from LSG for his existing player fee of INR 2 crorea move that signifies a crucial homecoming for the player. Thakur, who was a support bowler for MI between 2010 and 2012, currently captains the Mumbai domestic side, suggesting a strong cultural fit and understanding of the local cricket ecosystem for the utility player.

Despite Thakur’s struggles in the 2025 season with an economy rate of 11.02 after an initial burst of six wickets in his first two games, MI views him as a crucial Indian all-rounder capable of delivering clutch performances with both bat and ball, which is essential given the injury history of some of their other Indian fast-bowling options. In their second acquisition, MI successfully secured the services of dynamic West Indian batter Sherfane Rutherford from Gujarat Titans for INR 2.6 crorethe same fee GT had paid for him in the last auction. Rutherford, who was part of the MI squad in 2020, adds crucial left-handed hitting power to the middle order, boasting a strong performance in the 2025 season where he scored 291 runs in 13 games at a blistering strike rate of157.29, thereby strengthening the franchise’s formidable finishing unit.

IPL 2026: Arjun Tendulkar’s trade to Lucknow Super Giants

In a separate, albeit highly scrutinized, trade deal, Mumbai Indians finalized the move of left-arm fast bowler Arjun Tendulkar to the LSG for his base price of INR 30 lakh. This transaction, widely speculated to be linked to the Shardul Thakur acquisition, saw MI strategically release the young talent to ensure he gains more consistent playing opportunities at the new franchise.

Tendulkar had been associated with the five-time champions since the 2021 auction but found playing time extremely limited, featuring in only five IPL games across his tenure where he managed to scalp just three wickets at a high economy rate of 9.36. Despite his move to Goa for domestic cricket where he made his first-class and one-day debuts, consistent exposure at the highly competitive MI setup proved elusive. LSG’s decision to bring in the left-arm seamer, even after the departure of Shardul , is seen as a low-cost, high-potential move to deepen their Indian fast-bowling resources and utilize the unique angle he provides. The trade is viewed as a necessary step for the 26-year-old Tendulkar, offering him a fresh start and a clearer path to the playing XI away from the intense media scrutiny and expectations inherent in the Mumbai franchise setup.