Hardik Pandya Rohit Sharma Nita Ambani for Mumbai Indians. Image Credits: AFP
In a surprising development, Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya is reportedly not travelling with the team to Raipur for their upcoming match. Notably, Mumbai Indians are scheduled to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their next IPL 2026 game.
It is important to note that Hardik Pandya missed Mumbai Indians’ previous match against Lucknow Super Giants at the Wankhede Stadium on May 4. In his absence, Suryakumar Yadav took charge and led the team.
Hardik Pandya missed MI vs LSG match
Before the team management shared an official update, Suryakumar had already mentioned that the regular captain was not feeling well. At the toss, Suryakumar Yadav said,
"He's not well tonight, so I'm just stepping into his shoes. But otherwise, everything is fine,". This statement suggested that the issue was temporary and not very serious. Even so, his continued absence has led to further speculation.
Notably, Mumbai Indians management tried to clarify the situation. They stated, "Hardik Pandya is unwell with back spasm, hence Suryakumar Yadav is captain for today's game,".
This message aimed to reassure everyone that the situation was under control. Even then, doubts still remain among fans and experts.
Ryan Rickelton shares update on Hardik Pandya
Meanwhile, teammate Ryan Rickelton shared his thoughts after Mumbai Indian won the match by 6 wickets against LSG.
He said, "I don't know when he's expected to be back. I only found out this afternoon that he had back spasms. So I'm not aware of the extent of it - I wouldn't even call it an injury - or how serious it is or what he's feeling. But I'm sure he'll be back with the group as we head to Raipur this week,".
Hardik Pandya not travelling with team
According to Cricbuzz, the Mumbai Indians squad gathered at Terminal 1 of Mumbai airport before their departure.
However, Hardik Pandya was not seen with the team. His absence stood out, especially since he is the captain and usually leads the squad during travel and matches.
Notably, there is no clear indication that Pandya will join the team later in Raipur. This adds to the uncertainty surrounding his participation in the upcoming match.
Meanwhile, one more important Mumbai Indians player is also not travelling with Mumbai Indians team to Raipur due to personal reasons. However, the name has not been revealed by the sources.
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Hardik Pandya’s performance in IPL 2026
Notably, Hardik Pandya’s overall performance this season has been average. The former GT captain has scored 146 runs in eight matches with a strike rate of 136.45. In bowling, he has taken only four wickets in the same number of games.
Meanwhile, beyond his individual form, there are broader concerns around the team’s overall performance.
Mumbai Indians struggle continues
Notably, Mumbai Indians have had a difficult start to this IPL season. Even though the five-time champions opened their campaign with an impressive win over KKR, their form has declined steadily after that. As a result, their performances have not matched expectations in the matches that followed.
So far, they have secured only three wins from 10 matches, along with a net run rate of -0.649. This has placed them in ninth position on the points table, and their chances of reaching the playoffs now look very slim.
In addition, his record as captain also reflects these struggles. Across 37 matches over three seasons, he has led the team to 14 wins and 23 losses, which results in a win percentage of 37.83.
All these points together add to the uncertainty around his absence from the team. The official explanation mentions a fitness concern, yet the lack of clear updates continues to keep things unclear. As a result, discussions and questions are still ongoing.
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