Mumbai Indians gave a chance to young cricketer Krish Bhagat in their IPL 2026 match against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on April 20, 2026.
The 21-year-old from Jalandhar, Punjab, walked out in MI colours for the first time in Match 30 of IPL 2026. He was not alone — Mumbai Indians also handed a debut to Danish Malewar in the same game.
Who Is Krish Bhagat?
Krish Bhagat is a right-arm medium-fast bowler who can also bat lower down the order. He was born on November 6, 2004, in Jalandhar, Punjab.
He has played domestic cricket for Punjab in both first-class and List A matches. Reports say he has played seven first-class games and nine List A matches. He has taken wickets regularly in both formats and has also scored useful runs, including a fifty in first-class cricket.
Outside cricket, he is known as the nephew of Mohinder Bhagat, who is a Punjab MLA and Cabinet Minister. This family connection brought him extra media attention when his debut was confirmed.
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How Did He Get Into the Mumbai Indians Squad?
Krish Bhagat did not come out of nowhere. He had already been part of the Mumbai Indians system for nearly two years before this debut.
MI signed him as a replacement player after Atharva Ankolekar got injured and was ruled out of the tournament. Bhagat was picked at his base price of ₹30 lakh.
The franchise said he had impressed the coaching staff during practice sessions and internal matches. He was also part of the Reliance team in the DY Patil T20 Cup, which is closely connected to the Mumbai Indians setup. All of this time in the MI ecosystem helped build his case for a spot in the main squad.
The Injury Comeback That Makes His Story Special
One of the most important parts of Krish Bhagat’s journey is something many people may not know about.
Early in his career, he suffered a serious spinal cord injury. Many young cricketers would have given up at that point. But Bhagat worked hard through his recovery and rehabilitation and came back to competitive cricket.
That comeback story is what makes his IPL debut even more meaningful. It was not just a sporting moment — it was the result of years of struggle, hard work, and belief.
All You Need to Know About Krish Bhagat
- Age: 21 years old
- Born: November 6, 2004
- From: Jalandhar, Punjab
- Role: Right-arm medium-fast bowler and lower-order batsman
- First-class matches: 7
- List A matches: 9
- First-class top score: 51
- IPL team: Mumbai Indians
- IPL fee: ₹30 lakh (base price)
- Replaced: Atharva Ankolekar
What This Debut Means
For a young cricketer from Jalandhar, playing at the Narendra Modi Stadium — one of the biggest cricket grounds in the world — is a huge moment.
Krish Bhagat spent two years quietly working in the background of the Mumbai Indians setup. No big auction bid, no spotlight. Just consistent hard work in the nets and practice games.
When MI needed a replacement player, his name came up because the coaches had already seen enough of him to trust him. That kind of trust, built over two years, is what finally earned him his debut cap.
His story is a reminder that not every IPL journey starts with a big auction price tag. Some players earn their spot the old-fashioned way — by showing up every day and doing the work.