Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav—Mumbai Indians’ captain and stand-in captain respectively—are considered unlikely to take part in the match against Punjab Kings in Dharamsala on Thursday night. With the action set to take place at the picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium, the absence of both senior leaders could open the door for a new face to guide the side on the field. That scenario, however, should not be read as evidence that Pandya is being pushed out of the franchise, despite chatter that has circulated in parts of the media.
Leadership at HPCA: who could wear the captain’s armband
Rohit Sharma, a five-time IPL-winning captain, is still part of Mumbai Indians’ squad for the contest, but expectations are that he will not be asked to assume the leadership role. Instead, Jasprit Bumrah and Tilak Varma have emerged as the leading candidates to captain the team in Dharamsala. The final decision has not been confirmed yet.
- Jasprit Bumrah is a strong possibility, with his past experience leading India noted in the build-up.
- Tilak Varma is also in the mix to take charge if Mumbai’s regular leaders remain unavailable.
- Rohit Sharma is present but is not expected to be named captain for this specific game.
Why Bumrah could be the preferred option
It would not be surprising if Bumrah—who is 33—ultimately gets the nod. He has previously led India, before choosing not to take up full-time captaincy responsibilities. Bumrah has been associated with Mumbai Indians since 2013, meaning he has spent 13 seasons with the franchise and could be viewed as the most fitting leader for the moment.
Why Pandya and Suryakumar may miss Dharamsala
Both Suryakumar and Pandya are understood to still be in transit and have not yet arrived in the hill city, with the team’s situation evolving over the last couple of days. The development is especially notable because tickets were reported to have been booked for both players; even so, there has been no immediate confirmation that either will travel.
- Suryakumar and Pandya have been absent from Dharamsala over the past two days.
- Tickets were said to have been reserved for both, but no official confirmation has followed.
- The decision not to travel is not unexpected given the circumstances around Suryakumar and Pandya.
Suryakumar, who currently serves as India’s T20I captain, has recently welcomed a baby girl, and the franchise is reported to have remained mindful of family commitments. With Suryakumar having led the side in the last two matches, it is suggested that he may have been granted time away from the group.
Mumbai Indians, meanwhile, are already out of contention for a playoff place, which further reduces the urgency around taking risks with leadership availability for this particular fixture.
Pandya’s fitness update and the trading rumours being dismissed
Pandya’s situation is linked to fitness concerns. He has been dealing with back spasms since the match against Chennai Super Kings in Chennai on May 2. As a result, he missed the last two games—one in Mumbai and another in Raipur.
He was recently observed training late into the night at Reliance Corporate Park, but it is understood that the medical team assessing him has not yet provided full clearance. Even with the uncertainty around his availability for Dharamsala, sources have ruled out any prospect of him being traded to another franchise.
While a section of social media has speculated that Mumbai Indians could move their captain—who was part of a major high-profile transfer from Gujarat Titans in 2023—those reports have been dismissed by sources. With the season still underway, the franchise is neither entertaining nor discussing any such possibility, and Pandya is expected to remain with Mumbai Indians for the foreseeable future.
