Mumbai Indians have replaced Mitchell Santner with Keshav Maharaj after the all-rounder suffered a shoulder injury during an Indian Premier League match on 23 April, forcing him out of the tournament.
Santner sustained the injury while taking a catch near the boundary against Chennai Super Kings. He completed the catch but landed awkwardly and injured his shoulder and head, which required immediate medical attention and a concussion substitution.
Mumbai head coach Mahela Jayawardene provided details of the incident. “I think initially he got a hit on his head, then his neck and obviously his shoulder,” he said. This sequence indicates a multi-impact fall rather than a single point of injury.
“He was feeling dizzy when he came off, so we laid him down and put an ice pack on his shoulder,” he added. The symptoms suggest the medical team prioritised concussion protocols alongside the shoulder assessment.
Santner played four matches this season and took five wickets at an economy rate of 8.92. His absence removes a left-arm spin option who offered control in middle overs, which increases pressure on Mumbai’s bowling balance.
Maharaj joins the squad for the remainder of the tournament. He has limited IPL experience with two matches for Rajasthan Royals in 2024 but brings international experience with 55 wickets in 54 T20Is and 191 wickets across 218 T20 matches.
Mumbai signed Maharaj for 7.5 million rupees. The move reflects a like-for-like replacement in spin role rather than a structural change in bowling strategy.
Mumbai face Sunrisers Hyderabad in their next match. The team must adjust quickly as they attempt to recover from recent defeats and keep their play-off hopes alive.
