Why Did Hardik Pandya Miss The Flight To Dharamsala? Inside Details Emerge

Hardik Pandya yet to join Mumbai Indians in Dharamsala [Source: AP]

Mumbai Indians touched down in Dharamsala on Tuesday, May 12, for the upcoming IPL 2026 clash against Punjab Kings. However, the absence of captain Hardik Pandya led to a huge uproar. 

With MI being out of the playoff race, rumours of a possible rift between Pandya and the team management emerged. Amid this, Hardik skipping the Dharamsala trip only added fuel to the existing fire.

Hardik Pandya stays back in Mumbai due to a back spasm

That being said, in reality, Hardik Pandya is in fact dealing with a back spasm injury. Due to the same reason, he missed the last two games against LSG and RCB.

Moreover, according to Cricbuzz, Hardik decided to stay back in Mumbai as he is being assessed by MI’s medical team. So far, he has only delayed his trip to Dharamsala.

If things do work out in his favour, the Mumbai Indians skipper could join the team late and be available for selection. However, for now, the franchise is avoiding any risk as prioritising the skipper’s long-term fitness is their top priority. 

Also, the clash against PBKS holds no significance for MI, as they are already out of the playoff race with just 3 wins in 11 games, thus sitting at the ninth position on the points table.

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Suryakumar Yadav is missing from the squad as well

Meanwhile, apart from Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav also didn’t travel with the Mumbai Indians to Dharamsala. Yadav, who served as stand-in skipper in Hardik’s absence, apparently skipped the flight to Himachal Pradesh due to personal reasons.

Suryakumar was blessed with a baby girl last week, and he could have chosen to stay back in Mumbai to spend a few days with his family. The Cricbuzz report also mentions that Yadav will join the squad a few days late.

He also did the same when MI travelled to Raipur for the RCB game. That week, his wife Devisha gave birth to the couple’s first child, and Suryakumar Yadav stayed with his family to celebrate the special occasion.

Are the Mumbai Indians breaking apart due to an internal rift?

Meanwhile, amid a disappointing campaign, rumours of an internal rift inside the Mumbai Indians’ dressing room have spread like wildfire. Some reports suggest that Hardik Pandya had a tiff with the franchise owners and is on the verge of getting sacked.

His rift with MI is allegedly the reason behind his absence from the squad. However, all these are just social media conjectures, as MI have confirmed that Hardik is struggling with a back spasm injury.

Since Hardik Pandya took over the captaincy of the Mumbai Indians from Rohit Sharma in 2024, things have not looked good for the franchise. The rift rumours surface every now and then, which only adds to the mental pressure.

For now, MI will focus on safeguarding their pride by winning the last few games of the IPL 2026 season.

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