New Zealand all-rounder Mitchell Santner says Mumbai Indians paid him only half of his IPL 2026 salary after injuries cut short his campaign. His comments have sparked fresh debate over player contracts and compensation in the world’s richest T20 league.
Santner, one of New Zealand’s most experienced T20 players, joined Mumbai Indians for INR20 million at the 2025 IPL mega auction. The franchise retained him for the 2026 season and expected him to play a key role in its campaign.
The 34-year-old played only four matches. He took five wickets and scored 26 runs before injuries forced him out of the tournament. He suffered injuries to both shoulders within a span of two weeks.
His early departure sparked speculation among some fans. They claimed he exaggerated his injury to leave the IPL and prepare for New Zealand’s upcoming international assignments. Santner has strongly rejected those accusations.
Santner Opens Up About Salary Cut
Speaking on the Grade Cricketer Podcast, Santner revealed that Mumbai Indians paid only part of his contracted salary despite his efforts to return to the field.
“Well, they gave me half my cash, so that actually hurt a little bit,” Santner said.
The all-rounder explained that he joined the team shortly after the birth of his second child. He then suffered a series of setbacks that ultimately ended his season.
“I got there, missed the first game, birth of my second child, got there straight off the plane, played Delhi, did [injured] my right shoulder, out for kind of week.
“I came back a couple of games later, did [injured] my left and went home. So I did [injured] two shoulders in the space of kind of two weeks. So I thought I was putting my body on the line for them, but obviously not.”
His remarks suggest frustration over both the payment issue and the criticism that followed his injury.
Quick Recovery Fuels Debate
Medical staff initially expected Santner to miss around eight weeks because of his left shoulder injury. However, he recovered much faster than anticipated.
His recovery earned him a place in New Zealand’s three-match Test series against England, which begins this week. That swift return led some observers to question the severity of his injury and fuelled further speculation about his IPL exit.
Santner’s comments appear aimed at ending those rumours. He insists that the injuries were genuine and points to the financial loss he suffered as evidence that leaving the tournament early offered him no benefit.
The issue has attracted attention because IPL regulations generally require franchises to pay players their full contracted amount if injuries occur during the tournament. Those rules exist to protect players who suffer setbacks while representing their teams.
Neither Mumbai Indians nor IPL officials have publicly responded to Santner’s remarks. As a result, questions remain about the circumstances behind the reported payment reduction.
For now, Santner has shifted his focus back to international cricket. Yet his revelation has created an unexpected controversy and raised fresh questions about how IPL franchises handle injury-related payments.
