WPL 2026: G Kamalini ruled out, Mumbai Indians sign Vaishnavi Sharma

Mumbai Indians have suffered a setback in the ongoing Women's Premier League 2026, with young wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini being ruled out of the remainder of the season due to injury. The franchise has announced left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma as her replacement for the rest of the tournament.

Kamalini, one of the youngest players in the competition, had featured in all five matches for Mumbai Indians this season, scoring 75 runs. She was picked up by MI for ₹50 lakh at the WPL auction ahead of the 2026 season and was seen as a long-term prospect by the defending champions.

MI confirm replacement

The Women’s Premier League confirmed the development in an official statement, noting that Kamalini had been sidelined due to injury and would not be available for the remainder of the campaign. The franchise acted swiftly to bring in Vaishnavi Sharma, a rising star in Indian women’s cricket, to strengthen their squad.

Vaishnavi, a left-arm spinner, was part of India’s victorious ICC Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup squad in 2025. She played a starring role in the tournament, finishing as the highest wicket-taker with 17 wickets in six innings, including a sensational spell of 5/5.

Vaishnavi Sharma’s rapid rise

The 20-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the past year. She recently made her senior India debut in the T20I series against Sri Lanka women's cricket team, where she picked up five wickets across as many matches. Her performances have also earned her a maiden ODI call-up for the upcoming tour of Australia.

Her inclusion adds depth to MI’s bowling attack, especially in the spin department, as the tournament progresses into a crucial phase.

Mumbai Indians’ WPL 2026 campaign so far

Mumbai Indians currently sit second on the WPL 2026 points table with two wins from five matches. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side began their campaign with a narrow defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, before bouncing back with convincing victories over Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Giants.

However, MI’s momentum was checked by back-to-back losses against UP Warriorz, making the upcoming fixtures crucial in their bid to secure a playoff spot.

Mumbai Indians are set to face Delhi Capitals next at the BCA Stadium in Kotambi, Vadodara, where all eyes will be on how quickly Vaishnavi Sharma settles into her new role with the franchise.

With Kamalini ruled out and Vaishnavi stepping in, MI will be hoping the change brings fresh energy as they push for another strong finish in WPL 2026.