IPL Injury Of Mitchell Santner Rules New Zealand All-Rounder Out Of Ireland Test

Mitchell Santner was ruled out of IPL 2026 and upcoming international matches after suffering a serious shoulder injury during Mumbai Indians’ clash against Chennai Super Kings.

Mitchell Santner has been ruled out of IPL 2026 after sustaining a grade-three ACL tear following a shoulder injury during a match. The all-rounder was representing Mumbai Indians against Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium on April 23 when he dislocated his left shoulder while fielding.

Santner was unable to continue in the game and was subbed out. A day later, the injury was confirmed to be serious, ruling him out of the remainder of the IPL season. The setback has also impacted his international commitments with New Zealand as the NZC released official news on the cricketer’s health.

ALSO READ | MI Coach Confirms Mitchell Santner’s Shoulder Injury For Opting Out Of Guwahati Clash

Why Santner’s Absence Is A Major Blow For MI And New Zealand

The injury has wider implications beyond the IPL, as Santner will miss New Zealand’s upcoming fixtures. New Zealand Cricket confirmed the extent of the damage and his recovery timeline.

“The 34-year-old returned home to New Zealand this week and saw a specialist this morning who confirmed a rest and rehabilitation period of at least one month. The diagnosis means Santner is unavailable for the one-off Test against Ireland and the first Test against England, with his availability for the second and third Tests to be evaluated at a later date,” NZC said in a statement on Friday, May 01.

For Mumbai Indians though, this marks another injury concern in an already challenging campaign, with multiple players dealing with fitness issues.

Injury Concerns Mount For Mumbai Indians This Season

Santner’s injury adds to a growing list of setbacks for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026. The franchise has already lost Atharva Ankolekar, while captain Rohit Sharma is currently recovering from a strain.

To fill the void, MI have signed Keshav Maharaj as Santner’s replacement for the remainder of the tournament. Although Maharaj has joined the squad, he is yet to feature in a match. The repeated injuries could disrupt team balance and consistency as the tournament progresses.

MI and NZ Aim To Fill Massive Void

Mumbai Indians now turn their attention to their next clash against Chennai Super Kings in Match 44, scheduled in Chennai on May 2. There is still uncertainty around Rohit Sharma’s availability, with no official confirmation from the franchise so far.

As of New Zealand, after concluding the Bangladesh T20I series, they will be visiting Ireland for the Only Test scheduled for May 27. However, with Santner out of the setup due to the injury, New Zealand might opt for Michael Bracewell as a like-for-like inclusion in their team in the Whites.