From Gujarat streets to global stadiums, Monank Patel is the name India might cheer for again, this time in IPL colours. He has been increasingly mentioned as a potential target for the Mumbai Indians in the upcoming IPL 2026 auction.
Monank Patel plays for MI New York in Major League Cricket (MLC). On the national side, he captains the United States National cricket team, recently leading the team to the highest score by an American player in the MLC, completing a 201-run chase.
[Update] IPL 2026 Auction Hopeful: Get to Know USA’s Monank Patel
Born in Gujarat, made in the USA, Minank Patel began his cricketing career playing at the Gujarat youth system: under-16 and under-18 levels. Reportedly, Patel received a U.S. Green Card in 2010, and permanently moved to the United States in 2016, venturing to restaurants in New Jersey City.
Passionate about cricket, Patel chose to pursue a career in the sport instead of joining his family’s restaurant business.
By 2018, Patel saw himself as a member of the United States national team for the 2018-2019 ICC World Twenty20 Americas qualifier tournament, leading the team as run-scorer with 208 runs in six games.
Following his extraordinary records for the United States team, he ultimately earned captainship in 2021 for 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Americas Qualifiers.
And most remarkably, he captained the American team for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup tournament, scoring 50 runs against Pakistan, which helped the USA team win their second consecutive league match. Unfortunately, he sustained an injury and missed the rest of the matches in the tournaments.
Speaking about his domestic career, Patel is currently signed to the MLC side, MI New York.
👏 Monank Patel brings up his 50!
📺 Watch live and exclusive on https://t.co/ktQmbfqs7H#MLC | #MINYvSFU pic.twitter.com/Uegnwa6xTq
— Willow TV US (@willowtv) June 24, 2025
In the latest season of the American League, he scored 93 runs in just 50 balls, delivering MI New York their first win of the season in a successful 201-run chase over the Seattle Orcas, winning by 7 wickets.
| Events | ODI | T20I | LA | T20 |
| Games Played | 59 | 34 | 78 | 41 |
| Runs scored | 1,948 | 555 | 2,539 | 688 |
| Batting average | 36.07 | 19.82 | 35.26 | 19.65 |
| 100s/50s | 3/15 | 0/3 | 4/18 | 0/4 |
| Top score | 130 | 68 | 130 | 68 |
| Catches/stumpings | 38/2 | 21/12 | 44/2 | 21/12 |
Looking at his impressive career stats, cricket experts are hopeful Patel could be on Mumbai Indians’ Radar in IPL 2026 Auction.
Amit Mishra’s Take on Whether Monank Patel Can Make the IPL Cut
As a cricket enthusiast, I personally feel the captain of the American national team still has room to sharpen his career stats. In recent years, Patel has shown promise: 50 runs against Pakistan in the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World tournament, and not to mention his 93 runs in just 50 balls in MI New York’s MLC 2025 win. If he can build on this momentum and deliver more match-winning knocks, his chances in the 2026 auction could grow significantly.
