Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav—captain and stand-in captain of Mumbai Indians respectively—are unlikely to take part in the team’s match against Punjab Kings in Dharamsala on Thursday night. With the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium providing the backdrop, Mumbai could hand the leadership reins to a different senior figure. Importantly, the absence is not being read as a sign that Pandya is on the move, despite chatter that has circulated in parts of the media.
Quick facts
- Match: Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians
- Venue: HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala
- When: Thursday night (58th match of the season)
- Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav are not expected to play
- Rohit Sharma is still in the squad, but leadership is unlikely to fall to him
- Jasprit Bumrah and Tilak Varma are the leading candidates to lead
- Mumbai Indians are out of playoff contention
Rohit Sharma remains part of Mumbai’s group, even with him being a five-time IPL-winning captain. However, the expectation is that he will not be asked to steer the side for this particular game. Instead, attention has turned to Jasprit Bumrah and Tilak Varma as the most likely options for captaincy, though a final call has not been confirmed.
Bumrah, in particular, is seen as a strong possibility. The fast bowler is 33 years old and has previously led India, before deciding against committing to a full-time leadership role. Having been with Mumbai Indians since 2013 and spending 13 seasons with the franchise, he is viewed by many as a natural choice if Mumbai decide to rotate responsibilities during this phase.
In terms of experience, Bumrah has appeared in 156 matches for Mumbai Indians, yet he has not previously captained the side. Still, he has held the captain’s role for India in two Border-Gavaskar Trophy Tests in Australia during the 2024-25 stretch, and also captained the team in the Test versus England at Birmingham in 2022. After those assignments, he opted not to take on long-term leadership duties.
Why Suryakumar and Hardik may miss Dharamsala
Suryakumar and Hardik have reportedly been absent from Dharamsala over the last two days, with indications that neither has arrived in the hill city. It is understood that tickets were booked for both players, but there has been no immediate confirmation about them making the trip. Their decision not to travel comes as no surprise, particularly given the wider circumstances around Suryakumar.
Suryakumar, who leads India in T20Is, has recently welcomed a baby girl. The franchise is said to be attentive to family considerations, and it is expected that he may have been granted time away from the squad. Notably, Suryakumar has captained Mumbai in the last two games, but with the playoffs no longer within reach for the franchise, managing workloads and personal needs may take on extra importance.
In any case, Mumbai Indians are already out of contention for a playoff spot, which reduces the pressure of final-stage experimentation while still keeping the team competitive in the remaining fixtures.
No trade talk around Hardik Pandya
Rumours about Pandya have been linked to speculation that Mumbai Indians could trade their captain, but that narrative has been firmly rejected. Pandya has been dealing with back spasms since the match against Chennai Super Kings in Chennai on May 2, and he has missed the last two games—one in Mumbai and another in Raipur.
He was recently seen training late into the night at Reliance Corporate Park, but the understanding remains that the medical team assessing him has not yet given full clearance. Even so, sources close to the situation have ruled out any prospect of Pandya being sent to another franchise.
Some social media accounts had suggested that Mumbai Indians could move their captain—who himself was part of a major 2023 transfer from Gujarat Titans—but those reports have been dismissed. With the IPL season still running, the franchise is neither entertaining nor discussing any such possibility, and Pandya is expected to continue with Mumbai Indians for the foreseeable future.
Game-day preparations at HPCA
On the preparations side, the teams had to cut short their practice session at the HPCA Stadium on Wednesday night due to inclement weather. Despite that disruption, there is no expectation that Thursday night’s match will be affected by the conditions.
Since morning, the weather has been clear, and the 58th match of the season—carrying added significance for the home side—should go ahead as scheduled.
