Leg-spinner Mayank Markande has returned to Mumbai Indians through a trade from Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction. The Bathinda-born cricketer originally played for Mumbai during the 2018 and 2019 seasons, winning the championship in his second year. After stints with Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad, he joined KKR but did not feature in any match during IPL 2025. Mumbai was searching for a quality leg-spinner and chose Markande over other options. The 28-year-old will likely receive more playing opportunities with his new-old franchise, as they lack depth in Indian spin bowling. His career has seen ups and downs, including a brief appearance for the Indian T20I team in February 2019. Markande will aim to revive his IPL career with this homecoming move.
Career Journey and Return to Mumbai
Markande began his IPL journey with Mumbai Indians in 2018, taking 15 wickets in 14 matches during his debut season. His impressive performance earned him a spot in the Indian T20I squad, where he received his maiden cap in February 2019 in Visakhapatnam against Australia. However, subsequent seasons brought limited opportunities across various franchises. He played minimal games at Rajasthan Royals and had a brief second stint with Mumbai in 2022. His most productive phase came at Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he claimed 20 wickets in 17 matches across two seasons. At KKR, he remained unused throughout IPL 2025, prompting the trade back to Mumbai where better prospects await.
Source: Link