Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif has urged the Mumbai Indians to re-sign Ishan Kishan ahead of IPL 2026. Kishan batted at number three for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2025. Kaif reckons one down is not an ideal position for Kishan and the Mumbai Indians can get the best out of the left-hander by promoting him as an opener.
Kishan scored 354 runs in 13 innings for Sunrisers Hyderabad at an average of 35.40 and a strike rate of 152.58 in IPL 2025.
Meanwhile, Kishan played for the Mumbai Indians from IPL 2018 to 2024. He played a key role in the success of the franchise as an opener.
There have been reports that Ishan Kishan can move to the Mumbai Indians from Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of the IPL 2026 auction.
“Ishan Kishan is a better batter at Wankhede. He will open if he plays for MI. At SRH he is playing at three. There is a huge difference. He has not got that advantage playing at three. Despite taking him at a high price SRH have not been able to give him the right slot as it is not available. Maybe Ishan would be requesting himself to go to Mumbai if any deal is possible because he will get to open there. It is a very good option for Mumbai if they can get Ishan. Having an Indian keeper and opener will give them the option to play some other foreign player then,” Mohammad Kaif said on his YouTube channel.
On the other hand, Kaif also shed light on another potential trade between the Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants. The two franchises can swap Arjun Tendulkar and Shardul Thakur.
“Shardul can be your third or fourth bowler. He is not a new ball bowler. He cannot be your primary pacer. So that might be the only reason Mumbai are asking for him. They have Hardik, Bumrah, and Boult but they had an issue with the third and fourth seamer last year. They tried a few new players. So if this deal is going through, it is only because Shardul can do well at Wankhede and he can score as well. He can do what Krunal used to do on that pitch. Maybe the plan is to get a third seamer and a floater batter,” he explained.
The former UP batter said Arjun Tendulkar might not get his chances in the playing XI for LSG.
“If Arjun does go to LSG, they will not play him. They will just have him in the squad and maybe groom him. Maybe they will make him ready for the future. That’s it.”
The IPL 2026 retention list deadline is November 15.
