The headlines regarding the trade window ahead of the IPL 2026 retention deadline day have been hogged by the potential Sanju Samson-Ravindra Jadeja+Sam Curran trade. However, without much noise, the Mumbai Indians (MI) seem to have made a small but crucial move in this trade window.
According to a report in Cricbuzz, Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are involved in discussions regarding pace-bowling all-rounders Shardul Thakur and Arjun Tendulkar. However, it is learned that this is not a swap player-for-player trade, but it will be two separate player-for-cash trades.
Cricbuzz stated, “Sources say both Thakur and Tendulkar are likely to change franchises, but the two moves may be treated or interpreted as individual deals – more precisely, straightforward all-cash transfers.”
The IPL 2025 brought different results for both teams. Mumbai, under Hardik Pandya, finished fourth in the points table, beat Gujarat Titans in the Eliminator, but lost to Punjab Kings in Qualifier 2.
Lucknow, under Rishabh Pant, the most expensive signing in IPL history, flattered to deceive, ending their tournament in the seventh position with six wins and eight defeats. LSG were wrecked by injuries to multiple Indian pacers through the season.
Even before LSG played their first game of the season, they lost the services of Mohsin Khan and consequently roped in Shardul as a replacement player. Thakur had gone unsold in the IPL 2025 auction and was set to play for Essex in the County Championship in England.
He joined LSG for his auction price of INR 2 crore. The pacer left a good impression in the IPL 2025, claiming 13 wickets, the joint-second-most for LSG, with a best of 4/34.
Last month, Thakur was named as the captain of Mumbai for the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season.
Meanwhile, 26-year-old Arjun has been part of the Mumbai Indians franchise since IPL 2021 but has featured in only five games. In 5 IPL matches, Arjun has picked up three wickets and scored 13 runs.
IPL 2026 Auction: Why Are Mumbai Indians Trading Arjun Tendulkar For Shardul Thakur From LSG?
It is believed that Mumbai Indians want a backup pace-bowling all-rounder for Deepak Chahar, who is injury-prone. Hence, they want Shardul Thakur, who brings a similar skill set as Deepak—effective with the new ball and can score some crucial runs with the bat at No. 8 or 9.
Further, it has been tough for Arjun Tendulkar to break into MI’s playing XI all these years owing to the strength of MI’s bowling attack, particularly with the franchise often having several Indian pace options in their squad.
Meanwhile, due to lack of game time in Mumbai’s domestic team, Arjun, the son of Sachin Tendulkar, moved from Mumbai to Goa a couple of years back and has featured regularly for Goa in domestic cricket.
What is the deadline day for IPL teams to announce retentions?
The retention deadline day for the franchises to announce their retained and released players is November 15.
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