There might be another player trade happening – Shardul Thakur could go to MI, while Arjun Tendulkar might move to LSG

There might be another player trade happening – Shardul Thakur could go to MI, while Arjun Tendulkar might move to LSG

IPL 2026: We have the first confirmed trade deal ahead of the retention deadline on Saturday. Shardul Thakur has joined the Mumbai Indians from Lucknow Super Giants, where he joined last year as a replacement player for INR 2 crore.

While the Ravindra Jadeja–Sam Curran swap for Sanju Samson between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals is making headlines, another player movement is quietly taking shape. Lucknow Super Giants and Mumbai Indians are reportedly in talks over Shardul Thakur and Arjun Tendulkar. Though it may look like a trade, sources suggest these could be two separate deals simple cash transfers rather than a direct player swap.

According to IPL rules, only the BCCI can officially confirm any player exchange. People close to the Mumbai cricket scene have told that the deal is possible and an announcement might come soon, likely around November 15, when teams reveal their retained and released players.

Shardul Thakur, who is currently captaining the Mumbai domestic team, was signed by Lucknow Super Giants last season for his base price of ₹2 crore. He had gone unsold in the big IPL auction held in Jeddah. Thakur played 10 matches for LSG, scored just 18 runs, but took 13 wickets. He was mainly used with the new ball and often opened the bowling, proving to be a useful option early in the innings.

Arjun Tendulkar has been part of the Mumbai Indians squad for a couple of years. He was picked at his base price of ₹20 lakh in both auctions he entered. The 26-year-old left-arm all-rounder didn’t play any matches last season. In total, he has played five IPL games three in 2023 and one in 2024 scoring 13 runs and taking three wickets.

It’s unclear which team started the conversation, but both franchises are believed to be discussing the move. A few years ago, Arjun shifted from Mumbai to Goa in domestic cricket to get more playing time. He has since played 21 first-class matches. With Mumbai’s strong squads in both domestic and IPL cricket, breaking into the playing XI has always been tough for him.