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Mumbai Indians signed up Keshav Maharaj to replace Mitchell Santner in the IPL 2026 after Santner was injured. Due to his left shoulder injury, Santner is not going to join the team.

The injury took place in the last home match played by MI against CSK. While playing the match, Santner made an effort to catch the ball from the boundary area after jumping forwards. Even though he caught the ball, he got severely injured in his shoulder. The team physicians conducted a diagnosis and concluded that Santner would not play anymore in the remaining matches of the tournament.

It comes as a huge loss to Mumbai Indians since Santner was a crucial member of the team serving the team as a bowler and fielder.

Jasprit Bumrah bowled to Kartik Sharma at the moment. The batter struck a complete toss toward deep square leg. Santner who stood there ran in to catch the ball. He dived forward and completed a clean low catch. He suffered a shoulder injury when he landed. Santner displayed signs of pain after he won the catch for MI. The team owner and support staff were seen checking on him near the dugout.

Kartik Sharma scored 18 runs off 19 balls, hitting two sixes, but his innings ended because of that catch. For MI the catch resulted in a wicket but the team faced greater problems because they lost Santner.

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Keshav Maharaj works as a left-arm spinner who represents South Africa. He has built his international career through extensive overseas playing experience. He recently played in a T20I series against New Zealand and performed well. Maharaj has participated in 218 T20 matches during his career and took 191 wickets. His economy rate of 7.12 shows his ability to control runs during his performances. His best bowling numbers show 4 wickets for 15 runs.

He has participated in 2 IPL matches throughout his career, which he played for Rajasthan Royals during the 2024 season. He achieved 2 wickets in those matches while maintaining excellent bowling control. Maharaj's recent performance was 1 for 35, 2 for 22, and 1 for 30 during his March 2026 matches against New Zealand. This shows that he maintains an excellent rhythm during his playing.

The franchise signed him for 75 lakh INR because his bowling skills and experience will help the team achieve better balance.

Mumbai Indians now have a replacement for Santner who can perform at a high level. Maharaj may not be a like-for-like player, but he brings his own skills. He excels at maintaining run control during his bowling while performing under high-pressure conditions.

The team expects that Maharaj will establish himself quickly so he can contribute during the remaining matches. MI needs their new spinner to perform at his best because all upcoming matches will determine their success in the tournament.

Santner's injury represents bad luck for him but it creates a valuable opportunity for Maharaj to demonstrate his skills during IPL 2026.