New Zealand white-ball skipper Mitchell Santner will be out of action for at least a month due to a shoulder injury. Santner has been diagnosed with grade three ACL injury, that would compel him to remain out of action for at least a month. Notably, Santner sustained the injury during the April 23 clash against Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026. While attempting a catch, the Kiwi cricketer hit his head on the ground, prompting the Mumbai Indians to bring in Shardul Thakur as his concussion replacement.
The Black Caps released an official statement announcing that the all-rounder’s scans have revealed a grade three ACL shoulder injury. The statement also read that Santner would be unavailable for the one-off Test against Ireland and the first Test against England. According to the statement, “The diagnosis means Santner is unavailable for the one-off Test against Ireland and the first Test against England, with his availability for the second and third Tests to be evaluated at a later date. The full squad for the Ireland and England Tests is set to be named in the coming days.”
Mumbai Indians announce Keshav Maharaj as Mitchell Santner’s replacement
After Santner sustained the shoulder injury, the Mumbai Indians brought in South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj as his replacement. Maharaj, a left-arm spinner, had played only two IPL matches before this season and was signed by MI for INR 75 lakh. In his last 30 T20 matches, Maharaj has taken 31 wickets with a best of 3 for 15. He made his debut for the Proteas in 2016, and since then has remained a crucial and a consistent member of the squad.
“Maharaj is one of South Africa's most experienced spinners across all formats. The left-arm bowler with sharp control and the ability to build sustained pressure has been a consistent presence in the Proteas setup since his international debut in 2016,” the five-time champions announced in their statement.
It added, “Mumbai Indians are delighted to welcome him to the Blue and Gold. His hunger, his craft, and his experience make him exactly the kind of cricketer this team thrives on, added with his values, discipline and his ability to operate under pressure.”
Coming back to Santner, the Kiwis would hope for him to recover soon and be back in action.
