Hardik Pandya's Participation in IPL 2026 Match Against RCB in Doubt

As the Mumbai Indians prepare for their crucial IPL 2026 match against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, captain Hardik Pandya's participation remains uncertain due to a back spasm. Suryakumar Yadav is expected to return to the squad, potentially taking over the captaincy. The Mumbai Indians, currently struggling in the points table, must win their remaining matches to keep their playoff hopes alive. With tough opponents ahead, the stakes are high for the five-time champions.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 9, 2026, 20:33 IST

Hardik Pandya's Status for Upcoming Match

Hardik Pandya, who captains the Mumbai Indians, is not expected to play in their IPL 2026 match against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Sunday, May 9, in Raipur. Ahead of this pivotal clash with the defending champions, the Mumbai Indians issued a statement indicating that Hardik is still under assessment by the medical team, who will update the team on his condition.

Hardik missed the last match against the Lucknow Super Giants on May 4 due to a back spasm, with Suryakumar Yadav stepping in as captain during his absence. This season has been challenging for Hardik, as he has managed to score only 146 runs at a strike rate of 136.45 across eight matches. His bowling performance has also been below par.

Surya Set to Return

In another important update from the Mumbai Indians' media team, Suryakumar Yadav is expected to rejoin the squad for the match on Sunday. Initially, he was doubtful for the game due to personal reasons, but it has now been confirmed that he will be available to play against RCB and might even take on the captaincy role.

The Mumbai Indians currently sit in 9th place on the points table, having accumulated 6 points from 10 matches. To remain in contention for the playoffs, the five-time champions must win all their remaining four matches. Their upcoming opponents include RCB, PBKS, KKR, and RR, all of which present significant challenges. RCB, PBKS, and RR are currently in the top four, looking to secure their playoff positions, while KKR is on a four-match winning streak, strengthening their playoff bid.

**Mumbai Indians Squad:** Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya (captain), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, Will Jacks, Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton, Naman Dhir, Corbin Bosch, Sherfane Rutherford, Shardul Thakur, Mayank Markande, Robin Minz, Raj Bawa, Atharva Ankolekar, Mayank Rawat, Raghu Sharma, Keshav Maharaj, Danish Malewar, Mohammed Salahuddin Izhar, AM Ghazanfar, Ashwani Kumar.