Guwahati witnessed a tense, rain-shortened spectacle on the night of 7 April 2026 as Rajasthan Royals defeated the Mumbai Indians by 27 runs. In a match cut down by the weather at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, the Royals charged to 150/3 in just 11 overs. In response, the five-time champions faltered, restricted to 123/9.
Player of the Match Yashasvi Jaiswal was the engine behind the Royals' total, while MI's chase never really got going. Naman Dhir and Sherfane Rutherford top-scored for Hardik Pandya’s side with 25 each, but the clinical bowling of Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, and Ravi Bishnoi, who took two wickets apiece, sealed the result. This latest loss leaves MI sliding down the table and sparks serious debate about their team selection.
Against the backdrop of three straight defeats, MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene touched on the absence of Mitchell Santner, whose time with the franchise has been a bit of a rollercoaster. Picked up for a modest ₹2 crore in the 2025 Mega auction, Santner quickly became MI’s go-to spinner.
He played 13 games that year, taking 10 wickets with a tidy economy of 7.92. His best figures of 3/11 against the Delhi Capitals remain the most economical spell by a spinner at the Wankhede, which became a performance that helped push MI into the playoffs. Given that impact, it was no surprise when MI kept him on for the 2026 season at the same price.
But his 2026 campaign has been hit by setbacks from the start. Before the first game, Jayawardene revealed that both Santner and Will Jacks had asked for more time off, noting: "Will Jacks and Mitchell Santner have sought an extended break and we have given it to them. I can't give you a timeline about when they will join us."
Santner finally linked up with the team for the clash against Delhi Capitals on 4 April, arriving in good form after the T20 World Cup. He featured in that game and looked solid, but was missing again for the Royals match. Jayawardene explained: "Mitch, in the last game, had a little niggle when he came off. As a precaution, he wasn't a hundred per cent ready to play this game. Hopefully, he will be fit for our next game."
That niggle adds to the concerns surrounding the 34-year-old, who has struggled with knee issues in past IPL seasons. It’s frustrating for fans, especially since Santner landed in India after captaining New Zealand on a historic run to the T20 World Cup final. During that tournament, he took two wickets at a 6.60 economy and chipped in with 120 runs at a strike rate of 142.85.
While the Black Caps were ultimately brushed aside by India in the final, all out for 159 chasing a massive 255/5, Santner took the loss with his usual calm. He also hit a massive personal milestone during the tourney, joining Shakib Al Hasan and Hardik Pandya as one of the few all-rounders with 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in T20Is. Mumbai Indians will be desperate to get him back on the pitch; their 2026 season is crying out for his experience in those middle overs.
