New Zealand all-rounder returns from IPL stint with Mumbai Indians after injury against CSK; availability for England series uncertain

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New Zealand all-rounder Mitchell Santner has been ruled out of action for at least a month due to a shoulder injury, dealing a blow to both his national side and his IPL franchise commitments.

Santner, 34, recently returned home from the Indian Premier League, where he was representing the Mumbai Indians in the 2026 season. Following his return, he underwent medical scans, with New Zealand Cricket confirming that a specialist has advised a rest and rehabilitation period of at least one month.

The injury occurred on April 23 during a match against the Chennai Super Kings while Santner was fielding. Despite the setback, he completed his bowling spell, finishing with figures of 1 for 44, but did not bat in the game, with Shardul Thakur stepping in as a replacement.

This marks Santner’s fourth appearance of the season for Mumbai Indians, having joined the squad late after requesting extended personal leave following the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

The confirmed injury timeline means Santner will miss New Zealand’s upcoming one-off Test against Ireland in late May, as well as the first Test against England at Lord’s in early June. His participation in the remaining matches of the England series will depend on his recovery progress. The squad for these tours is expected to be announced soon.

Earlier, Santner had also opted out of New Zealand’s ongoing white-ball tour of Bangladesh due to his IPL commitments.

Santner has been a key player for Mumbai Indians since being signed for INR 2 crore ahead of IPL 2025 and retained for the current season. In IPL 2025, he played 13 matches, taking 10 wickets with an economy rate of 7.92. In the ongoing season, he contributed with both bat and ball, scoring 26 runs at a strike rate of 136.84 and picking up five wickets.

On the international stage, Santner recently captained New Zealand to the final of the T20 World Cup, where they finished runners-up. He contributed 120 runs at an impressive strike rate of 142.85 and picked up two wickets during the tournament.

Despite the setback, Santner is expected to recover in time to lead New Zealand in their ODI and T20I tour of the West Indies in July, offering a positive outlook for the team’s mid-year international schedule.