Mumbai Indians bowling coach Paras Mhambrey has confirmed that captain Hardik Pandya is expected to be available for the franchise’s next IPL 2026 outing against Rajasthan Royals, scheduled for Tuesday at ACA Stadium. Pandya missed Mumbai’s previous match versus Delhi Capitals at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi after falling ill, but he has since returned to full training and worked through batting and bowling sessions in Guwahati.
Hardik Pandya’s availability and the team shuffle
- Hardik Pandya was ruled out of Mumbai Indians’ prior IPL match against Delhi Capitals in New Delhi due to illness.
- Mumbai Indians went on to lose that contest by six wickets.
- After missing the game, Pandya returned to the MI practice setup in Guwahati on Sunday night.
- In those sessions, he bowled and batted, moving with what the coaching staff described as a good rhythm.
- Mhambrey said Pandya is fit and not dealing with an injury, adding that the reason for the absence was unwellness rather than a physical problem.
- Pandya’s non-availability in the last match required Mumbai to adjust their combination.
- South African all-rounder Corbin Bosch was brought into the XI in place of Trent Boult.
- Deepak Chahar also came into the side for the game that followed Pandya’s absence.
- Mhambrey framed the change as tactical, explaining that Hardik’s role offers both batting and bowling options, and the team selected a like-for-role replacement to cover that balance.
With Mumbai set to play an IPL fixture in Guwahati for the first time, the focus will quickly turn to key matchups. One duel expected to draw plenty of attention is how Rajasthan Royals batters Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Dhruv Jurel handle Jasprit Bumrah’s pace and craft.
Bumrah’s “disguise” and the mental battle
Mhambrey underlined Bumrah’s distinctive strengths, particularly his ability to “disguise” deliveries and make batters struggle to read what is coming. He noted that while different fast bowlers can be compared, Bumrah’s approach makes it difficult for opponents to anticipate his variations. He also referenced the idea that even when there are plenty of tactical expectations, a batter cannot simply walk in assuming exactly what Bumrah will do.
To illustrate Bumrah’s impact, Mhambrey pointed to a “classic example” from the England game—specifically the first ball he bowled, which was slower than anyone could reasonably have predicted. The coaching staff member suggested that Bumrah’s uniqueness comes from the way he anticipates what batters are likely thinking and presents an unexpected option mid-delivery, which becomes his standout skill set.
Mhambrey concluded by describing that USP as Bumrah’s defining trait—an ability to repeatedly force batters into uncertainty through disguise, selection, and clever presentation.
