Former India and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) player Aakash Chopra believes that Mumbai Indians (MI) did not acquire all-rounder Shardul Thakur as a replacement for Deepak Chahar in the upcoming IPL 2026 season. Instead, Chopra feels that Thakur has been brought in to complement Chahar in the MI squad.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) traded Thakur to MI for his existing player fee of ₹2 crore. Thakur had joined the Lucknow franchise in IPL 2025 as an injury replacement for Moshin Khan and put up some impressive performances despite being on the expensive side.
Analyzing MI’s decision to trade for Thakur ahead of IPL 2026, Chopra commended the franchise for the move. He stated on his YouTube channel, “Shardul Thakur is a good option for MI. He comes from Mumbai, plays domestic cricket for them, and knows the Wankhede Stadium very well. MI need a swing bowler, so Thakur is a good option in that regard.”
Chopra also raised the question of whether MI might be considering letting go of Deepak Chahar and potentially reacquiring him in the auction. However, he believes that Thakur is not a direct replacement for Chahar but rather a player who will partner with him in the team.
Thakur boasts a record of 107 wickets in 105 IPL matches at an average of 30.31 and an economy rate of 9.40, with two four-wicket hauls. With the bat, he has scored 325 runs at a strike rate of just under 140. On the other hand, Chahar has taken 88 wickets in 95 IPL games at an economy rate of 8.13.
In addition to Thakur, MI has also secured the services of West Indies batter Sherfane Rutherford in a trade deal with Gujarat Titans (GT) for ₹2.6 crore. Chopra believes that Rutherford is a valuable addition to the MI squad, especially as a lower-order batter. Despite Rutherford’s struggles against wide yorkers, Chopra sees him as a smart acquisition for MI.
Rutherford has featured in 23 IPL matches, scoring 397 runs at an average of 24.81 and a strike rate of 137.37. He also has experience in 44 T20Is, where he has scored 588 runs at an average of 18.37 and a strike rate of 137.38.
Overall, Chopra commended MI for their strategic acquisitions in the trade deals ahead of IPL 2026, emphasizing their ability to secure valuable players outside of the auction. The former player believes that both Thakur and Rutherford will significantly strengthen the Mumbai Indians squad for the upcoming season.
