Mumbai Indians (MI) have announced the signing of Mahipal Lomror and Ruchit Ahir as replacement players for the injured duo of Quinton de Kock and Raj Angad Bawa ahead of their final game of IPL 2026.
The changes come at the end of a disappointing campaign for the five-time champions, who have already been eliminated from playoff contention and are guaranteed to finish in the bottom two of the points table.
Quinton de Kock and Raj Angad Bawa Ruled Out
Mumbai Indians confirmed that wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock suffered a tendon injury in his left wrist ahead of the side’s clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Meanwhile, young all-rounder Raj Angad Bawa picked up a ligament tear in his right thumb during MI’s fixture against Punjab Kings.
The injuries forced the franchise to make emergency additions to the squad just one day before their final league-stage encounter against Rajasthan Royals at Wankhede Stadium.
Mahipal Lomror Returns to IPL Action
The more experienced of the two replacements is Rajasthan batting all-rounder Mahipal Lomror.
Lomror brings prior IPL exposure, having represented both Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru between 2018 and 2024.
Across 40 IPL appearances, Lomror scored 527 runs and was often used as a middle-order aggressor capable of accelerating against spin bowling. Though primarily known for his batting, he also contributed occasionally with left-arm spin, claiming one wicket during his IPL career.
Mumbai Indians have signed him for INR 50 lakh.
For Lomror, the move presents another opportunity to revive his IPL career after going unsold earlier in the season.
Ruchit Ahir Earns Maiden IPL Opportunity
The second replacement signing, Ruchit Ahir, is an uncapped player from Saurashtra cricket team.
Unlike Lomror, Ahir has never previously featured in the IPL, making this his first association with a franchise in the tournament.
The 25-year-old has played:
- 16 List A matches
- 12 T20 matches
Ahir has impressed with his aggressive batting in domestic cricket, scoring 333 runs in T20 cricket at a strike rate of 169.03.
Mumbai Indians secured his services for INR 30 lakh.
The franchise has often invested in emerging domestic talent, and Ahir now gets a valuable opportunity to work within one of the IPL’s most successful setups despite the team’s difficult season.
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Tough Season for Mumbai Indians
IPL 2026 has been a forgettable campaign for Mumbai Indians.
The five-time champions have managed only four wins from 13 matches and failed to build momentum throughout the tournament. Injuries, inconsistent batting performances, and bowling struggles contributed heavily to their disappointing run.
Several senior players endured below-par seasons, while the team struggled to settle on a balanced playing combination.
The injury setbacks to Quinton de Kock and Raj Angad Bawa further compounded MI’s problems late in the season.
Focus Already Shifting Toward Rebuilding
With playoff qualification no longer possible, Mumbai Indians are likely to use their final fixture against Rajasthan Royals to assess squad depth and evaluate fringe players ahead of next season.
The additions of Lomror and Ahir may not dramatically alter their fortunes immediately, but they offer the franchise an opportunity to test fresh options before IPL 2027.
For Lomror, this could be a chance to re-establish himself as a dependable IPL middle-order batter.
For Ahir, it represents the beginning of what he will hope becomes a long IPL journey.
Even though MI’s campaign has fallen apart, the franchise will be keen to finish the season positively in front of their home crowd at Wankhede Stadium.