A minor storm has erupted in the lead-up to the IPL 2026 auction, sparked by veteran cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin's accidental reveal of Shardul Thakur's trade to Mumbai Indians (MI). Ashwin, known for his insightful cricket analysis on his YouTube channel "Ash Ki Baat," inadvertently disclosed the trade from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) before an official announcement was made.
In a now-deleted portion of his video, Ashwin discussed MI's strategies for the upcoming season. While speculating on potential replacements for the injury-prone Deepak Chahar, Ashwin stated, "They have secured Shardul Thakur on a trade from LSG. That is already done". This statement, made on Wednesday, preceded MI's official confirmation of the trade on Thursday.
Mumbai Indians, known for their savvy social media presence, responded to Ashwin's premature announcement with a playful jab. They clipped the relevant portion of Ashwin's video and posted it on their official X handle (formerly Twitter), captioning it "News confirmed by Ravichandran Romano last afternoon - Yes, we have secured the signing of Shardul Thakur from LSG!". The caption alluded to football insider Fabrizio Romano's famous "Here we go!" tagline, used when confirming player transfers.
Ashwin, in good humor, responded to MI's post with a cautionary message of his own. Quoting the same "Here we go!" phrase, he added, "Fair play… Trading is subject to rumour risk. Upload all trade related videos carefully!". This witty response acknowledged his slip-up while also gently reminding teams to be mindful of information control during the trade period.
The trade sees Shardul Thakur, an experienced all-rounder, potentially joining his seventh IPL franchise. He previously represented Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), Rising Pune Supergiant, Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, and Lucknow Super Giants. Thakur was acquired by LSG as a replacement for the injured Mohsin Khan at his base price of INR 2 crore after going unsold in the previous auction. In IPL 2025, he took 13 wickets in 10 matches, including a four-wicket haul, with an economy rate of 11.02.
While neither team has officially confirmed the details, reports suggest that the trade might involve Arjun Tendulkar moving to Lucknow in exchange for Thakur.
Beyond the Shardul Thakur acquisition, Mumbai Indians have also reportedly secured Sherfane Rutherford from Gujarat Titans. Furthermore, they are said to be in the market for additional spin bowling options, with Mayank Markande (currently at KKR) and Rahul Chahar (at SRH) being potential targets. Meanwhile, Lucknow Super Giants are reportedly seeking to bolster their pace attack, with inquiries made about Mohammed Shami from Sunrisers Hyderabad. Delhi Capitals are also reportedly interested in Shami.
With the IPL 2026 auction drawing closer, and the trade deadline set for November 15, teams are actively strategizing to strengthen their squads. Ashwin's accidental revelation and the subsequent social media banter have added an interesting layer to the pre-auction buzz, highlighting the intense speculation and maneuvering that characterize this period.
