Mumbai Indians are facing a razor-thin margin for error in IPL 2026. The five-time champions sit in ninth place after winning just three of their first 10 matches, collecting six points. With four games left, they know that victories from here on out are essential if they are to keep their playoffs hopes alive.
Adding to the pressure, captain Hardik Pandya has been hit by a health concern. On Wednesday, Pandya did not travel with the first large group of players and support staff from Mumbai to Raipur ahead of Mumbai’s next Indian Premier League assignment against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The trip is for their encounter at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium.
Quick facts
- Mumbai Indians are ninth in IPL 2026 with three wins from 10 matches and six points.
- Hardik Pandya has missed Mumbai’s previous game versus Lucknow Super Giants due to a back spasm.
- Pandya was not part of the first travel batch to Raipur on Wednesday for the match vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
- Rohit Sharma was included in the first batch, while Suryakumar Yadav (stand-in captain vs LSG) is also reported to be missing the first group.
- Mumbai’s gap between matches is five days: last game on May 4 vs LSG, next game on May 10 vs RCB.
- The Wednesday travel group is not scheduled to train in Raipur on Thursday.
- Mumbai need to win each of their remaining matches to maintain slim playoff chances.
Pandya was absent from MI’s last outing on Monday against Lucknow Super Giants after suffering a back spasm. It also remains unclear how quickly he can recover, with the captain having already missed two matches earlier in IPL 2026 due to health-related issues.
The match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Sunday, May 10, is now being framed as a must-win for Mumbai, who will be defending their spot in the playoff conversation at Raipur. Their ability to field their regular leadership will be closely watched, especially given the timing of Pandya’s latest setback.
Rohit Sharma, however, was part of the initial group that travelled to Raipur. But another twist emerged through reporting in India Today: Suryakumar Yadav—who had taken over as captain in Pandya’s absence against Lucknow Super Giants—was also not included in the first batch that left Mumbai.
That raises a straightforward but important question for MI’s planning: if both Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav are unavailable, who will lead the side against Royal Challengers Bengaluru? India Today’s report suggests Mumbai may be without Suryakumar Yadav for the Sunday clash against RCB.
Meanwhile, a PTI update added more detail to the squad movement. With a five-day window separating MI’s last game on May 4 versus Lucknow and their next match on May 10 versus Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the players and staff are set to travel to Raipur in separate batches.
Even with the concern, the team’s internal word is that the issue is minor. A team source said Pandya was advised rest for the game against Lucknow Super Giants, indicating the management is trying to prevent the problem from worsening before the crucial fixture.
Logistics are also playing a role. There are said to be limited flight options between Mumbai and Raipur, which has influenced the travel schedule and split the squad into different groups. The group that travelled on Wednesday, meanwhile, will not be training in Raipur on Thursday.
With seven defeats and three wins in their campaign, Mumbai Indians remain stuck in ninth place and cannot afford any slip-ups. After Suryakumar Yadav stepped in to lead during Pandya’s absence, opener Ryan Rickelton offered a candid response when asked about the situation.
Rickelton said he did not have clear information about when Pandya would return. “I don’t know when he’s expected to be back. I only found out this afternoon that he had back spasms. I’m unaware of the extent of it or how bad 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,” Rickelton said after the Lucknow Super Giants match.
