Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya missed the side’s match against Delhi Daredevils due to a bout of viral illness, but the five-time champions expect him to be back in action for their away fixture against the Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on Tuesday. Pandya travelled with the rest of the squad soon after the afternoon game in Delhi and is set to rejoin training after being on the sidelines for the past few days.
At the toss, stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav explained why Pandya was not part of the playing group. “He’s not well, doesn’t look good, so he was not fit for today’s game. So, just getting into his shoes today,” Surya said, outlining that the decision was made because the all-rounder was unwell. While the situation sounded concerning in the moment, the call to rest him was ultimately taken as a precaution, particularly with the tournament still in its early phase.
MI were scheduled to fly out of Delhi immediately after the match, and the franchise chose not to take any risks with a key all-rounder. Pandya did travel to Delhi, but illness kept him away from the team’s two training sessions ahead of the game.
Despite several alterations to the XI for the encounter against Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians couldn’t turn the result in their favour, going down by six wickets in a chase. Delhi, buoyed by a standout Sameer Rizvi display, reached the target in just 18.1 overs, handing MI their first loss of the season after a disciplined bowling effort.
With the defeat behind them, Mumbai now turn their attention to Rajasthan Royals, who arrive at the fixture unbeaten after strong starts to their campaign. The Royals have registered convincing wins in their first two matches against Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans, and they are currently placed at the top of the table, helped by a healthy net run rate. Rajasthan’s chase-led momentum sets up a key test for MI, with Hardik’s availability for Tuesday’s match shaping as a major storyline.
