Hardik Pandya likely to take break due to fitness concerns; MI face uncertainty amid IPL struggles
Skipper misses second match of season; Rickelton says severity unclear as MI register big win over LSG in his absence
Struggling to find rhythm in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), five-time champions Mumbai Indians are likely to undergo a major change midway through the tournament.
Various reports suggest that captain Hardik Pandya is believed to have decided to take a break from upcoming matches, citing medical issues.
In his absence on Monday evening, Mumbai Indians defeated Lucknow Super Giants in a high-scoring chase. After the match, opener Ryan Rickelton said even the players were not fully aware of the severity of Pandya’s condition.
“I don’t know when he’s expected to be back. I found out before the match that he had back spasms, so I’m unaware of the extent of it. I don’t want to call it an injury; I’m unaware of how bad it is or what he’s feeling. But I’m sure he’ll be with the group again as we head to Raipur this week,” Rickelton said.
This was the second match Pandya has missed this season. Earlier, he was unavailable for the game against Delhi Capitals.
In his absence, Mumbai Indians produced one of their most complete performances of the season, chasing 229 with a dominant 143-run opening stand between Rickelton (83 off 32) and Rohit Sharma (84 off 44).
Pandya, who replaced Rohit Sharma as Mumbai Indians captain in 2024, had faced booing from crowds in Ahmedabad during the same season. He was part of the four title-winning campaigns under Sharma’s leadership, but since taking over as captain, the team has struggled to replicate that success.
Last season, Mumbai Indians finished fourth, while this year they are placed ninth among 10 teams.
The side is now scheduled to play Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 10 in Raipur, with fans awaiting clarity on whether Pandya will feature in the match.
