IPL 2026: After LSG, MI trade with GT to acquire finisher Sherfane Rutherford via cash deal

Sherfane Rutherford played 13 matches for Gujarat Titans last year and returns to Mumbai Indians after 6 years.

Mumbai Indians (MI) didn’t just become the first Indian Premier League (IPL) team to make the first trade deal before the 2026 mini auction, but are involved in the second trade as well. After acquiring Shardul Thakur for INR 2 crore from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), MI has bagged Sherfane Rutherford from the Gujarat Titans (GT) as well.

MI trades with GT after LSG

The West Indian finisher was one of GT’s better batters last season. After Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler, it was him or nothing. However, despite his solid performance, GT has decided to trade him to MI. The decision seems rather strange since Mumbai already has a proven finisher in Naman Dhir, but perhaps they wish to use him in the middle order instead.

“West Indies all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford is set to represent the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL 2026 season following a successful trade from the Gujarat Titans (GT). Acquired by GT for a fee of INR 2.6 crore, Rutherford will move to MI at his existing fee.

The 27-year-old has featured in 44 T20Is for the West Indies and holds the record for the highest sixth-wicket partnership in T20Is, having stitched together a 139-run stand with Andre Russell against Australia in Perth.

Rutherford has played 23 IPL matches so far, having earlier represented Delhi Capitals in 2019 and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2022. He was part of the MI squad in 2020 and the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024, but did not feature in the playing XI during those seasons,” IPL’s release read.

Sherfane Rutherford’s IPL journey so far

• 2019 – Delhi Capitals 
• 2020 – Mumbai Indians (trade)
• 2021 – Sunrisers Hyderabad (replacement) 
• 2022 to 2025 – Gujarat Titans
• 2026 – Mumbai Indians (trade)

Mumbai Indians squad before IPL 2026 retention

Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Robin Minz, Shrijith Krishnan, Bevon Jacobs, Tilak Varma, Ryan Rickelton, Hardik Pandya, Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Corbin Bosch, Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, Will Jacks, AM Ghazanfar, Reece Topley, Jasprit Bumrah, Lizaad Williams, Karn Sharma, Vignesh Puthur, Satyanarayana Raju, Raj Angad Bawa, Ashwani Kumar, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Arjun Tendulkar, Shardul Thakur, Sherfane Rutherford