Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya has raised fresh concerns over his availability after he was not spotted with the team as they departed for their next Indian Premier League 2026 fixture against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Raipur.
Pandya had earlier missed MI’s previous match against Lucknow Super Giants due to back spasms. While the franchise had termed it a minor issue, his absence from the travelling squad has now fuelled speculation about his fitness.
According to reports, the all-rounder was not seen with the rest of the MI contingent at the Mumbai airport on Wednesday, with no official update on whether he will join the squad later.
In Pandya’s absence, Suryakumar Yadav had led the side in the previous fixture. Teammate Ryan Rickelton had earlier said the extent of Pandya’s condition was unclear, adding that he expected the skipper to rejoin the squad soon.
The development comes amid a disappointing campaign for Mumbai Indians, who are currently languishing near the bottom of the table with just three wins in 10 matches.
Pandya’s own form has also been underwhelming, with the skipper managing only 146 runs in eight games while struggling to make an impact with the ball.
The franchise’s struggles have been further compounded by the leadership transition from Rohit Sharma to Pandya, a move that was expected to usher in a new era but has instead coincided with a dip in performance.
