With the goal to flesh out the spin arsenal for the upcoming IPL 2026, the Mumbai Indians (MI) are reported to be mulling the prospect of bringing back their erstwhile leg-spinners Mayank Markande and Rahul Chahar. The Times of India reported that the five-time champions have already opened trade talks with the KKR and the SRH.
MI Target Mayank Markande in All-Cash Deal
Following their recent trade of Shardul Thakur from Delhi Capitals in exchange for Arjun Tendulkar, MI have now turned their attention to Mayank Markande, who began his IPL career with the franchise back in 2018.
Reports suggest that MI have placed an all-cash offer to acquire Markande from KKR, where the spinner didn’t feature in a single match during the 2025 season. The deal is said to be in its final stages, with an official announcement expected soon.
Markande made an instant impact during his debut IPL season, taking 15 wickets in 14 matches for MI. Although his career trajectory has fluctuated since then, his recent stints with SRH in 2023 and 2024 displayed glimpses of the form that once made him one of India’s brightest spin prospects.
Rahul Chahar Also on MI’s Radar
In addition to Markande, MI are also reportedly considering a reunion with Rahul Chahar, another leg-spinner who was part of their 2020 IPL title-winning squad. Currently with SRH, Chahar played just one match in the 2025 season and carries a price tag of ₹3.2 crore, making him a relatively expensive option.
While MI have reached out to SRH regarding Chahar’s availability, it remains unclear whether the Hyderabad-based franchise is willing to release him. Team sources indicate that MI could soon decide whether to pursue a trade or wait for the IPL 2026 mini-auction to make their move.
MI’s Current Spin Setup
At present, MI’s domestic spin lineup includes Vignesh Puthur and Karn Sharma, with Mitchell Santner and Will Jacks providing overseas spin options. The addition of either Markande or Chahar would add much-needed depth and local experience to their spin unit, especially for Indian conditions.
Meanwhile, if the Markande deal materializes, KKR may be forced to scout for backup spinners to support Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine.
