![Shardul Thakur to play for MI in IPL 2026 [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/X.com]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1763102786459_Shardul_Thakur_MI_IPL_2026.jpg?type=hq)
Shardul Thakur to play for MI in IPL 2026 [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/X.com]
Shardul Thakur's IPL journey has been anything but straightforward. In a league where some players spend their entire careers with one franchise, Shardul has lived the life of a travelling cricketer.
He is a man passed around, traded, picked, dropped, and revived more times than most bowlers can count their variations.
Six teams, three trades, one unsold season, and yet the story of Shardul Thakur refuses to slow down.
And now, after another big move, which was his third trade, this time to the Mumbai Indians for IPL 2026, the question writes itself: Will Shardul finally find a permanent home with MI?
A career that never stood still
It all started in 2015 when Shardul Thakur came to the Punjab Kings as a young, raw pacer, looking to break into the big league. A journey that was supposed to rise became a winding road across India.
- 2017 - Traded to Rising Pune Supergiants
- 2023 - Traded to Kolkata Knight Riders
- 2025 - Traded to the Mumbai Indians
Add to that five seasons with CSK and a stint at LSG as an injury replacement, and you get a nomadic cricketer who never truly belonged anywhere for long.
Shardul’s career has been chaotic and dramatic, even. One year, he's a hero in yellow lifting trophies with CSK, another year, he's sitting unsold at the auction table.
When he went unsold in IPL 2025, many thought the league had moved past him. But destiny had other plans.
An injury to LSG's Mohsin Khan brought him back into the fold, and suddenly, he was once again in demand.
He picked 13 wickets in 10 games for Lucknow, becoming their best bowler of the IPL 2025 season.
That's been the rhythm of Shardul's IPL life: uncertainty, struggle, revival, repeat.
Why MI might finally feel like ‘home’
If there's one franchise that understands Shardul Thakur at his core, it's the Mumbai Indians. This city is where he grew up as a player.
From the streets of Palghar to the hard decks of Wankhede, he learnt the early lessons of T20 bowling.
Landing at MI in 2026 isn't a random trade; it feels like a circle completing itself. And MI, more than any team, loves multi-dimensional cricketers.
Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, and Will Jacks all have thrived because the franchise gives them freedom to express.
Shardul Thakur is that type of player. Not the most economical, not the fastest, not the most accurate, but he's a moment-maker, a cricketer who breaks a match open with one over or with a surprise 20 off 10 balls.
MI knows how to use such chaos-creators. If any franchise can give Shardul the stability he never had, it's Mumbai.
But will MI back Shardul Thakur long-term?
That's the real question. MI is ruthless in the way great teams must be. They don't hold on to players based on emotion. Talent must translate into wins. If Shardul Thakur struggles, they won't hesitate to move on.
However, Shardul has something he didn't have in earlier stages: experience, maturity, and clarity about his role. He's no longer the youngster trying to fit in.
He's the veteran who knows his value as a wicket-taker, game-breaker, lower-order hitter, and a fighter who thrives in tough moments.
This version of Shardul Thakur can succeed anywhere. But at the Mumbai Indians, he might truly flourish.
The verdict: Yes, this could finally be home for Shardul Thakur
Shardul Thakur is at a stage in his career where he needs belonging, backing, and a familiar environment. Mumbai Indians offer all three.
The franchise knows him. He knows the culture of the city. And above all, he fits exactly what MI need, a versatile Indian all-rounder who brings depth and unpredictability.
Maybe this time, the journey won't continue to another city. Maybe this is where it settles. For the first time in years, the Lord might have found his kingdom.
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