IPL 2026: Mumbai Indians sign Lomror, Ahir to replace de Kock and Bawa
Synopsis
Five-time champions Mumbai Indians are already out of the IPL 2026 playoffs and now face the prospect of finishing last — and their mid-season response is two low-cost signings worth a combined ₹80 lakh. The Lomror-Ahir duo fills gaps left by de Kock and Bawa, but the real story is how far MI have fallen in a single season.
Key Takeaways
Mumbai Indians have signed Mahipal Lomror (₹50 lakh) and Ruchit Ahir (₹30 lakh) as mid-season replacements in IPL 2026 .
Quinton de Kock is out with a tendon injury to his left wrist , sustained before the 29 April match against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Raj Angad Bawa suffered a ligament tear in his right thumb against Punjab Kings on 14 May ; both players appeared in only three matches this season.
Lomror has played 40 IPL matches across Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Delhi Capitals, and Gujarat Titans.
Ruchit Ahir , 25 , is a Saurashtra wicketkeeper-batter with 16 List A and 12 T20 appearances, spotted at the DY Patil T20 Cup 2026 pre-season.
MI are ninth on the points table with eight points from 12 games and are already eliminated from playoff contention.
Mumbai Indians (MI), the five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions, have signed left-handed all-rounder Mahipal Lomror and wicketkeeper-batter Ruchit Ahir as mid-season replacements, following the injury-enforced exits of Quinton de Kock and Raj Angad Bawa from IPL 2026. Both replacements were confirmed on 23 May, with the franchise noting they had been monitoring Ahir closely since the pre-season.
Why de Kock and Bawa Are Out
Quinton de Kock sustained a tendon injury in his left wrist ahead of MI's fixture against Sunrisers Hyderabad on 29 April, effectively ruling him out for the rest of the season. Raj Angad Bawa, the seam-bowling all-rounder, suffered a ligament tear in his right thumb during the match against Punjab Kings on 14 May. Both players had featured in only three matches for MI this season before their respective injuries struck.
Who Comes In and at What Price
Mahipal Lomror, a Rajasthan-born left-handed batting all-rounder, brings considerable IPL experience to the squad. Across 40 IPL matches, he has represented Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and was also part of the Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans squads, though he did not play for the latter two franchises. He joins MI for ₹50 lakh.
Ruchit Ahir, 25, is a wicketkeeper-batter from Saurashtra with 16 List A and 12 T20 appearances to his credit. He joins the franchise for ₹30 lakh. Notably, Ahir featured for the Reliance team at the DY Patil T20 Cup 2026 during the pre-season, giving MI's coaching staff and team management a direct look at him in a competitive setting.
'He was a part of the Reliance team at the DY Patil T20 Cup 2026 this pre-season, where the coaches and team management had the opportunity to observe him closely. Mumbai Indians are pleased to welcome both players to the squad,' the franchise said in a statement.
MI's Difficult Season So Far
The signings come at a bleak moment for the record champions. Mumbai Indians sit at ninth place on the IPL 2026 points table with eight points from 12 games and have already been eliminated from playoff contention. A tenth defeat in their remaining fixtures would consign them to the bottom of the table — an unprecedented low for one of the tournament's most decorated franchises.
What's Next for Mumbai Indians
MI will play their next match against Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday. With the playoff door firmly shut, the game carries pride rather than points, but a win in front of their home crowd would at least spare them the ignominy of finishing last. How the two new signings are deployed — particularly whether Ahir gets a debut — will be closely watched.
Point of View
And no replacement signing at this price point can replicate that. The deeper concern is structural: MI have now missed the playoffs in a season where injuries compounded a poorly balanced squad. Finishing last would be a franchise-defining low, and the management will face hard questions about squad construction when the auction cycle reopens.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who have Mumbai Indians signed as replacements in IPL 2026?
Mumbai Indians have signed Mahipal Lomror and Ruchit Ahir as mid-season replacements. Lomror, a left-handed all-rounder with 40 IPL appearances, joins for ₹50 lakh, while wicketkeeper-batter Ahir joins for ₹30 lakh.
Why are Quinton de Kock and Raj Angad Bawa out of IPL 2026?
Quinton de Kock sustained a tendon injury in his left wrist before the Sunrisers Hyderabad match on 29 April. Raj Angad Bawa suffered a ligament tear in his right thumb during the Punjab Kings match on 14 May. Both players had featured in only three games for MI this season.
Where does Mumbai Indians stand on the IPL 2026 points table?
Mumbai Indians are ninth on the IPL 2026 points table with eight points from 12 matches. They have already been eliminated from playoff contention, and a further defeat risks placing them last overall.
What is Mahipal Lomror's IPL background?
Mahipal Lomror has played 40 IPL matches, representing Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He was also part of the Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans squads but did not feature in matches for those franchises.
Who is Ruchit Ahir and why was he picked by Mumbai Indians?
Ruchit Ahir is a 25-year-old wicketkeeper-batter from Saurashtra with 16 List A and 12 T20 appearances. MI's coaching staff had the opportunity to assess him during the DY Patil T20 Cup 2026 pre-season, where he represented the Reliance team.
