Mumbai Indians could step into their IPL 2026 showdown against Punjab Kings in Dharamsala on Thursday with a different captain, with regular skipper Hardik Pandya missing the last two matches because of a back issue. Pandya did not feature in those games after being sidelined by back spasm, even though a report claimed he had trained for three hours by himself on Tuesday night. The all-rounder also shared clips from his batting practice. In Pandya’s absence, Suryakumar Yadav captained the side in the matches MI played, but Yadav is also not available for the trip to face PBKS.
Hardik Pandya’s absence and what was reported
- Hardik Pandya missed MI’s previous two IPL matches due to back spasm.
- A report suggested Pandya trained for three hours alone on Tuesday night.
- Pandya posted videos showing his batting work as part of his preparation.
- Suryakumar Yadav led Mumbai Indians in the games Pandya missed.
- Yadav is also unavailable for the Dharamsala fixture against Punjab Kings.
- The report said tickets were booked for both players, but there was no immediate confirmation that either would travel to the hill city.
Family reasons cited as MI miss key leadership
The same report said Yadav’s non-availability is understandable because the batter has recently been blessed with a baby girl. It also noted that the franchise has historically been mindful about family matters. With Mumbai Indians already out of the picture for a playoff spot, the leadership shake-up adds to an otherwise difficult campaign for the five-time champions.
Captaincy options and speculation over Hardik’s future
Pandya’s absence has triggered chatter on social media about a possible move to another franchise. However, the report also stated that there is no chance of Pandya being traded to any other team. With both Pandya and Yadav unavailable, Jasprit Bumrah and Tilak Varma have been identified as the leading stand-in options to wear the captain’s armband, though it is still unclear who will ultimately be chosen for the match.
The report further added that Rohit Sharma—who has captained Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles—is “unlikely” to be asked to temporarily take over the role.
How the season has turned for MI and Corbin Bosch’s message
Speaking on Wednesday ahead of MI’s contest versus Punjab Kings, all-rounder Corbin Bosch acknowledged it has been a tough stretch for the side without their regular skipper. He said the situation has been challenging, but the game continues and the team still needs to focus on playing cricket.
- Bosch said it has been “challenging” for Mumbai Indians without Hardik Pandya, calling him both a leader and a fantastic cricketer.
- He added that MI have missed Pandya’s presence for on-field leadership and impact.
- Bosch said the people involved in managing decisions and looking after Pandya are trying to do what is best for him and for the team.
- He noted that while the situation has been tricky, cricket must still go on.
MI’s downturn in the season was underlined by a narrow defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Raipur on Sunday, a result that knocked the franchise out of playoff contention. Pandya missed that match as well due to back spasm.
The Bengaluru clash was the third group-stage game of the season in which Pandya did not play. Earlier, he also sat out an away fixture against Delhi Capitals and the home game versus Lucknow Super Giants.
With the leadership situation uncertain for Dharamsala, MI will now decide between Bumrah and Varma as they prepare to face Punjab Kings—while the wider questions around Pandya’s immediate availability and any potential future move remain firmly in the background.
