Mitchell Santner Joins Mumbai Indians for IPL 2026
New Zealand all-rounder Mitchell Santner has arrived in Delhi to join the Mumbai Indians team. He is set to play in their upcoming match against the Delhi Capitals on April 4. Santner missed the opening game of the season, along with England’s Will Jacks, as both players requested some personal time.
His inclusion is a welcome addition for the Mumbai Indians, who won their first match against the Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets at Wankhede Stadium. There is still no update on when Jacks will rejoin the squad.
Santner, known for his left-arm spin and batting skills, adds more strength to the Mumbai Indians’ spin department and their lower-order batting. In their opening match, the team successfully chased down a target of 220 runs, led by a solid opening partnership of 148 runs between Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton.
Mumbai retained Santner for IPL 2026, having signed him for ₹2 crore before last season. In 2025, he played 13 matches, taking 10 wickets and scoring 40 runs. He also has experience from his time with the Chennai Super Kings, where he was part of the team that won the title in 2023.
Santner has been a key player for New Zealand in limited-overs cricket. Recently, he captained the team to the finals of the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, scoring 120 runs and taking two wickets during the tournament.
After the World Cup, he played three matches in a T20I series against South Africa before being rested for the final matches. New Zealand lost that series 3-2.
The Mumbai Indians are on the hunt for their sixth IPL title, although they haven’t reached the finals since their last victory in 2020. With Santner joining the squad just ahead of important early matches, they hope to build on their promising start.
Following their game against the Delhi Capitals, the Mumbai Indians will head to Guwahati to face the Rajasthan Royals on Tuesday. The team continues to wait for Will Jacks, whose return date is still unknown.
