At a glance:
- Hardik Pandya does not travelled with the team to Rapiur for match against RCB
- Hardik Pandya missed last games against LSG due to illness
- Can MI still get qualified for playoffs
The Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Hardik Pandya missed the team’s previous Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 match against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) because of back spasms. But he is not yet fully recovered and will miss the upcoming game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). According to reports, the official reason given for his absence was his health.
Mumbai Indians’ next match is against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and the team has left for Raipur. As the team arrived at Terminal 1 of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, the captain of the team was left out.
Pandya is not currently expected to join the squad before the match, leaving Mumbai facing a major doubt over their captain’s availability against RCB.
However, Hardik Pandya also missed the previous match against Lucknow Super Giants, with Suryakumar Yadav stepping in as captain. Mumbai Indians went on to secure a six wicket victory and Suryakumar later explained the reason behind Pandya’s absence during the toss.
“He’s not well tonight, so just going into his shoes,” he said.
Hardik Pandya Form Raises Concerns
In the ongoing IPL 2026 season, Pandya is not up to the mark with his bat. In eight games for the side, the captain has scored 146 runs with a strike rate of 136.45.
His form is also not good with the ball. Injuries have kept him out of a few matches as the team is in a rough patch.
The star all-rounder has already missed two matches this season. While back spasms are not always considered a major injury concern, they can be difficult to manage for a player expected to contribute heavily with both bat and ball.
With the tournament entering a crucial stage, Mumbai are likely to remain cautious rather than risk worsening the issue.
Read More: “Affecting His Rhythm” – Sunil Gavaskar Lashes Out at Jasprit Bumrah
How Can Mumbai Indians Qualify for IPL 2026 Playoffs
With the five-time champions still clinging to slim playoff hopes, Pandya’s absence comes at a crucial stage of Mumbai Indians’ season. The win over Lucknow Super Giants kept them firmly in the race, but there is now little room for error.
If Mumbai win all of their remaining league matches, they could finish on 14 points, which may still be enough to secure a top-four place.
Mumbai will likely need to rely on net run-rate to stay in contention for the playoffs and will also require other results to fall in their favour. With several teams still in the race, MI may need a series of convincing victories alongside continued wins to strengthen their chances of finishing in the top four.
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