Mumbai Indians Captain Hardik Pandya Misses Match Due to Back Spasm

In a significant turn of events for the Mumbai Indians, captain Hardik Pandya was sidelined from a must-win IPL match due to a back spasm. Suryakumar Yadav stepped in as captain, while Rohit Sharma made his long-awaited return after a hamstring injury. The Mumbai Indians are struggling this season, sitting at the bottom of the points table with only two wins. Discover more about the team's challenges and player updates in this article.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 5, 2026, 02:26 IST

Hardik Pandya's Absence in Crucial IPL Match

On Monday, Mumbai Indians' captain Hardik Pandya was unable to participate in a crucial Indian Premier League match due to a back spasm, while Rohit Sharma made his return after recovering from an injury.

During the toss, Suryakumar Yadav, who is the T20I captain for India, announced that he would be stepping in for the ailing Pandya.

A statement from the team confirmed, "Hardik Pandya is unwell with a back spasm, hence Suryakumar Yadav is captain for today’s game."

This season has been challenging for Pandya, as he has struggled both as a player and a leader, with the Mumbai Indians currently sitting at the 9th position in the points table, facing potential elimination. The team has managed only two victories against seven losses in their nine matches.

In this IPL season, Pandya has accumulated 186 runs and taken four wickets.

Previously, Pandya had missed an away match against Delhi Capitals, with Suryakumar stepping up as captain during that game as well.

On a positive note, Rohit Sharma was included in the team sheet as one of the five impact substitutes, marking his return since April 12, when he sustained a hamstring injury during a match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.