Hardik Pandya Rohit Sharma Nita Ambani for Mumbai Indians. Image Credits: AFP
Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya has been ruled out for MI's next match in IPL 2026. The captain, who has been part of the franchise's core group, has been in the news for reasons beyond cricket, too, involving his girlfriend, Mahieka Sharma.
The IPL 2026 season has turned into a disappointing campaign for Mumbai Indians. The five-time champions have officially been knocked out of the playoff race after managing just three wins in 11 matches.
Playing only for pride, Mumbai Indians will now face Punjab Kings on May 14 in Dharamsala.
Hardik Pandya ruled out of PBKS vs MI match
However, ahead of the important fixture, all eyes would have been on captain Hardik Pandya and his fitness status. The all-rounder did not travel with the Mumbai Indians squad to Dharamsala, raising fresh concerns over his availability for the remainder of the season.
The MI players and support staff arrived in Dharamsala on Monday (May 11) afternoon, but Hardik Pandya was missing from the travelling group.
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PTI journalist Kushan Sarkar has now reported that Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the PBKS vs MI clash in Dharamsala.
Hardik had already missed Mumbai's last two matches because of back spasms. He was absent during MI's defeat against Chennai Super Kings on May 2 and also sat out the heartbreaking last-ball defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 10.
Mumbai Indians coach Mahela Jayawardene had earlier confirmed that the franchise was carefully monitoring Hardik's condition.
"We didn’t want to take a risk without knowing exactly. The medical guys are working on him. It is being assessed on a day-to-day basis,” Jayawardene had said after MI’s defeat to RCB.
Is Hardik Pandya Really Injured?
While Hardik's absence from the travelling squad created doubts over his fitness, the player himself may have sent a completely different message through social media.
The Mumbai Indians skipper recently shared videos on his Instagram account showing him batting aggressively during a late-night practice session. Hardik was seen training alone at a Reliance facility and looked comfortable while taking on bowlers in the nets.
The videos quickly went viral among fans, many questioning whether the all-rounder is actually still injured.
Interestingly, Hardik Pandya did not appear to show any visible signs of discomfort while batting during the solo session.
At the same time, rumours of tension between Hardik Pandya and the franchise have also surfaced recently after fans noticed that the all-rounder had unfollowed Mumbai Indians on social media.
Suryakumar Yadav Also Did Not Travel With The Squad
Mumbai Indians also travelled to Dharamsala without senior batter Suryakumar Yadav. However, unlike Hardik's case, Suryakumar's absence is linked to personal reasons.
The India T20I captain recently became a father, and the franchise allowed him flexibility regarding travel arrangements. Suryakumar had similarly joined the squad late before MI’s previous match against RCB in Raipur.
Reports indicate that he is expected to link up with the Mumbai Indians squad in Dharamsala closer to match day.
With Mumbai Indians already eliminated from the tournament, the pressure may be off the team, but Punjab Kings have plenty to play for.
PBKS are desperate for a win after suffering four straight defeats against RR, GT, SRH and DC and are still fighting to secure a top-two finish in the IPL 2026 points table.
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