Mumbai Indians Krish Bhagat has been named as the replacement for Atharva Ankulekar, who has been ruled out of IPL 2026. Mumbai Indians (MI) have signed the 21-year-old Punjab fast bowler for a base price of Rs 30 lakh. The 25-year-old Ankolekar could not recover in time from a knee injury Ranji Trophy weather earlier this year.Krish Bhagat, the 21-year-old right-arm 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 a part of the Mumbai Indians trials for the last 2 years, played for the Reliance team in the DY Patil T20 Cup in 2026 and has been a support bowler with the team since the pre-season this year.
Who is Krish Bhagat?
Krish Bhagat’s journey is one of resilience and quiet determination. Hailing from a family with deep roots in sports and public service, the 21-year-old from Jalandhar is the nephew of Jalandhar West MLA Mahendra Bhagat. Early in his career, Kirsh suffered a life-changing spinal cord injury. However, through intense recovery and unwavering determination, he made a brilliant return to competitive cricket.After recovering, he stamped his authority in age-group cricket, highlighting his all-round ability by scoring over 500 runs in the Cooch Behar Trophy and taking 30 wickets in the Col. CK Naidu Trophy.Krish has consistently impressed the coaching staff with his dedication, work ethic, and the quality he brings to every session and practice game he plays for Mumbai Indians. His commitment and growth over the years both locally this season and in Mumbai Indians’ practice sessions has given him the right opportunity to transition into the main squad.
Career Statistics of Krish Bhagat
According to his signature, Bhagat’s household records include:
- 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: Sher Punjab T20 Cup 8 matches with 8 wickets
