Mumbai Indians Women have been dealt a blow in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 with the news that wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini has been ruled out of the remainder of the season due to injury. The defending champions have moved quickly to replace her by signing left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma for INR 30 lakh ahead of their first game of the Vadodara leg against Delhi Capitals.
Kamalini, just 17 years old, had been a rising star for Mumbai, playing in all five of their leagues matches before her injury. Across those outings she scored 75 runs, with a highest score of 32, showing glimpses of her batting prowess in the middle order. Her dynamic batting and safe glove work had earned her a regular spot in Mumbai Indians XI.
The young batter’s journey has already been remarkable. She became the youngest debutant in WPL history when she first played for Mumbai Indians at age 16 years and 213 days in the 2025 season. In addition to her WPL exploits, Kamalini was a key figure in India’s ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup triumph in 2025, finishing as one of her team’s highest run-scorers with 143 runs in seven innings, including a crucial 56 not out in the semifinal.
With Kamalini unavailable, Mumbai Indians have turned to Vaishnavi Sharma, a talented left-arm orthodox spinner who brings balance to the squad with her wicket-taking ability. Vaishnavi was a standout performer in India’s U19 World Cup campaign, finishing as the leading wicket-taker with 17 scalps, including a sensational hat-trick and figures of 5/5 against Malaysia.
Her strong performances at junior level earned her a maiden senior T20I call-up in December 2025, and she has played five T20 Internationals for India so far, picking up five wickets in those matches. In domestic cricket she has also shown consistency, topping the wicket charts in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy with 21 wickets in 11 games and backing it up with 12 wickets in five matches during the Senior Women’s Inter-Zonal T20s.
Vaishnavi’s ability to bowl in the middle overs and provide crucial breakthroughs will be especially valuable to Mumbai Indians’ bowling unit, which has relied on its spinners in the 2026 season. Her skill set adds a different dimension to Mumbai’s attack and gives head coach Lisa Keightley a fresh option as they look to maintain momentum.
Mumbai Indians have had a mixed campaign so far. The defending champions have registered two wins from five matches and remain in contention for a playoff spot, holding onto a strong position on the points table thanks to their superior Net Run Rate. With three league games left, every point matters as they fight to secure a berth in the knockout stages.
Kamalini’s absence will be felt, especially behind the stumps. Yet her overall contributions at a young age reflect her bright future in the game, and Mumbai will be hoping she makes a full recovery in time for future seasons. Looking ahead, Vaishnavi Sharma’s integration into the Mumbai’s squad could be a key factor in their late-season push. Her wicket-taking capabilities could turn tight matches in Mumbai’s favor, while offering variety in bowling options for the franchise as they gear up for the business end of the tournament.
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