India's legendary spinner Ravichandran Ashwin had no idea that he is going to make a big revelation on Mumbai Indians' secret trade deal with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). R Ashwin, on his Youtube channel, disclosed that MI have already traded Shardul Thakur from LSG ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. Ashwin confidently mentioned about the trade, however, there is no official statement from MI so far or LSG related to the development.
Mumbai Indians complete Shardul Thakur trade deal?
This news adds to the intense speculation surrounding the league, which is already dominated by reports of a potential blockbuster deal involving the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). That rumored deal would see CSK trade their star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in exchange for captain Sanju Samson. The confirmation of the Thakur trade, albeit unofficial, suggests that franchises are actively working behind the scenes to finalize their squads ahead of the retention deadline.
“I don’t see any releases happening from MI. Will they try to secure a replacement for Deepak Chahar, who’s a bit injury-prone? They have secured Shardul Thakur on a trade from LSG,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
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If any part of this development is true, it will signify a major move for Shardul, making MI his seventh franchise in the IPL. The right-arm medium pacer has earlier represented Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), Rising Pune Supergiant, Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders, and a highly successful five-year stint with the Chennai Super Kings. His most recent appearance was for LSG in the IPL 2025 season. Despite initially going unsold in the auction, Thakur was later brought in by LSG as an injury replacement for Mohsin Khan. He managed to make an impact during his mid-season entry, featuring in 10 matches and taking 13 wickets with an average of 28.84, though his economy rate was on the higher side at 11.02.
What does Shardul Thakur deal mean for MI?
For MI, who reached the playoffs in IPL 2025 but fell short in Qualifier 2 against Punjab Kings, this acquisition is seen as a major strategic boost. The franchise has actively sought to enhance its experienced Indian bowling depth, a critical area given the recurring fitness issues of key players like Deepak Chahar. Thakur’s appeal lies in his versatility: he is a genuine bowling all-rounder known for his knack of taking crucial wickets and his ability to perform under pressure. Currently, Thakur is even captaining Mumbai in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2025-26, suggesting that his trade would further strengthen MI’s domestic core by providing a reliable backup option and adding valuable firepower with both ball and bat.
For now official statements from both MI and LSG are awaited, which will confirm the veracity of Ashwin's claim.