Mumbai Indians have named Krish Bhagat as a replacement for Atharva Ankolekar, who has been ruled out of IPL 2026. Mumbai Indians (MI) have signed, the 21-year-old Punjab seamer, at the base price of INR 30 lakh. Ankolekar, 25, failed to recover in time from the knee injury he picked up during the Ranji Trophy season earlier this year.Krish Bhagat, the 21-year-old right-handed all-rounder who represents Punjab, brings versatility as a right-arm fast bowler and can contribute with the bat as a lower order batsman. Krish was part of Mumbai Indians trials for the past 2 years, having played for the Reliance Team in the DY Patil T20 cup in 2026 and has been a support bowler with the team since pre season this year.
Who is Krish Bhagat?
Krish Bhagat’s journey is one of resilience and quiet determination. The 21-year-old from Jalandhar comes from a family where sports and public service are deeply rooted, he is the nephew of Mohinder Bhagat, MLA from Jalandhar West. Early in his career, Krish suffered a life-altering spinal cord injury. However, through intense rehabilitation and unwavering commitment, he made a remarkable return to competitive cricket.Post recovery, he stamped his authority in age-group cricket, scoring over 500 runs in the Cooch Behar Trophy and picking up 30 wickets in the Colonel C.K. Nayudu Trophy, underlining his all-round potential.Krish has consistently impressed the coaching staff with his dedication, work ethic, and the quality he brings to every session and practise games that he played for Mumbai Indians. His commitment and development over the years, both in domestic and at Mumbai Indians practise sessions this season have earned him this well-deserved opportunity to transition into the main squad.
Krish Bhagat career stats
As of his signing, Bhagat’s domestic record includes:
- First-Class: 7 matches, 7 wickets (Best: 4/52), and 145 runs .
- List A: 9 matches, 9 wickets (Best: 3/33), and a half-century (51 runs vs Uttarakhand) .
- T20: 8 matches in the Sher-E-Punjab T20 Cup with 8 wickets
