Mumbai Indians have signed South Africa left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj after Mitchell Santner was ruled out of IPL 2026 with a shoulder injury.

Santner, who picked up five wickets in four games at an economy rate of 8.92 this season, injured his shoulder while attempting a catch at the boundary against Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium. He was spotted in the dressing room with an ice pack around his shoulder during the chase as MI used a concussion substitute for him.

Maharaj, who has 54 T20I caps for South Africa, has played just two games in the IPL before – for Rajasthan Royals in 2024. He does, however, have experience in franchise leagues across the world, having played in the CPL, the BPL and the Vitality Blast, apart from the SA20 and the erstwhile Mzansi Super League in South Africa.

In the most recent SA20 season, he captained his new franchise Pretoria Capitals to the final, and finished the campaign with 12 wickets in as many games. In all, he has 191 wickets in 208 T20 innings at an impressive economy rate of 7.12.

MI’s spin options in addition to Maharaj include AM Ghazanfar, Mayank Markande and Raghu Sharma, as well as allrounder Will Jacks.

MI have won just two of their seven games so far and are ninth on the points table. They next play Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday.