Hardik Pandya was missing from the Mumbai Indians playing XI for their IPL 2026 clash against Lucknow Super Giants at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Monday. With the all-rounder unwell, Suryakumar Yadav stepped in to lead the side, while Rohit Sharma returned as an impact option. At the toss, Yadav said MI would reassess their approach based on conditions and confirmed that Hardik was not fit for the match.
Key takeaways
- Hardik Pandya did not play for Mumbai Indians against Lucknow Super Giants due to illness.
- Suryakumar Yadav captained MI in Hardik’s absence and said Hardik was not well tonight.
- Rohit Sharma returned as an impact player, and Corbin Bosch came into the XI for Trent Boult.
- Lucknow made two reshuffles: Josh Inglis replaced Josh Inglis’ corresponding outgoing spot in the XI, while Akshat Raghuwanshi came in for Mukul Choudhary.
- Both captains pointed to the nature of the pitch and the idea of setting up plans for the second innings.
Toss: Mumbai opt to bowl as Suryakumar takes over
Mumbai Indians won the toss and chose to field first against Lucknow Super Giants. Suryakumar Yadav, standing in for Hardik Pandya, explained the thinking behind the decision. He noted the conditions at the venue, describing the evening as slightly humid, and added that after watching the way the second innings played out in a previous look at the surface, bowling first could be a sensible option.
When asked about Hardik, Suryakumar was direct: the all-rounder was not feeling well and therefore Yadav would take over “going into his shoes.” He also addressed MI’s selection changes, mentioning that Corbin Bosch had been brought in for Trent Boult and that Rohit Sharma was back in the equation as an impact player.
Suryakumar added that MI’s identity is not typically built on this kind of combination, but the team would back itself to deliver its best performance. He further said the side still has five matches remaining and the goal is to win those games.
Lucknow’s changes and Pant’s message
Lucknow Super Giants also made alterations to their XI. Josh Inglis came into the lineup for Lucknow, while Akshat Raghuwanshi replaced Mukul Choudhary. Rishabh Pant, captaining Lucknow, suggested the team would have made a similar call regardless, highlighting that the wicket offers a batting-friendly surface. He stressed that a chase of any total is possible, reinforcing that the match plan can be adapted to what comes after the halfway stage.
Pant also reflected on the broader context of the season, calling it a tough stretch for Lucknow and stating that they have to keep pushing without excuses. He acknowledged the passion of Sanjeev Goenka for the game and the franchise, and said the team would aim to deliver results for the owner and the fans. He remarked that while records matter, the most important factor is clearing the mindset so that things “come together.”
Finally, Pant addressed the team’s personnel shifts during the build-up to the game, confirming that Inglis is in, Mukul is out, and Raghuwanshi has been added, and that further decisions would be taken later depending on match developments.
Playing XIs
Mumbai Indians
- Ryan Rickelton (wk)
- Naman Dhir
- Suryakumar Yadav (c)
- Tilak Varma
- Will Jacks
- Raj Bawa
- Corbin Bosch
- Deepak Chahar
- Jasprit Bumrah
- AM Ghazanfar
- Raghu Sharma
Lucknow Super Giants
- Mitchell Marsh
- Aiden Markram
- Rishabh Pant (w/c)
- Josh Inglis
- Nicholas Pooran
- Akshat Raghuwanshi
- Himmat Singh
- Mohammed Shami
- Mohsin Khan
- Avesh Khan
- Prince Yadav
