Hardik Pandya’s absence has raised eyebrows ahead of Mumbai Indians’ clash against Lucknow Super Giants, with the MI skipper missing the next match of IPL 2026. The all-rounder’s fitness has now become a new concern for the franchise as the tournament enters a crucial phase.
in his absence, Suryakumar Yadav joined MI management, which is the second time this season that Pandya has missed a match. While MI didn’t provide complete clarity initially, the situation became clearer as updates came in during and after the match.
MI vs LSG: HIGHLIGHTS | SCORECARD
After MI’s win, Ryan Rickelton admitted that even the players were not fully aware of the severity of the problem.
“I don’t know when he’s expected to be back. I found out this afternoon that he had back spasms so I’m not aware of the extent of them. I don’t want to call it an injury; I don’t know how bad it is or what he’s feeling. But I’m sure he’ll be with the group again when we go to Raipur this week,” Rickelton said.
The update suggests that while the injury is not being treated as a long-term setback, there is still no firm timetable for Pandya’s return.
WHY DID HARDIK PANDYA NOT PLAY MI vs LSG?
Mumbai Indians confirmed before the match that Pandya was unavailable due to a back spasm.
The problem reportedly surfaced just before the match, with MI saying the all-rounder was unwell, prompting Suryakumar to take over the captaincy duties. This was also the second match that Pandya missed this season as he previously sat out the match against Delhi Capitals.
Back spasms, while not always serious, can be difficult to manage, especially for an all-rounder who contributes with both bat and ball. As things stand, MI are expected to take a cautious approach before throwing their captain back into the playing XI.
HOW DID LSG GO FOR ME
Despite missing the MI captain, he produced one of the most complete performances of the season.
LSG posted a strong 228 for 5, led by Nicholas Pooran’s 63 off 21, Mitchell Marsh’s 44 and an unbeaten 40 from Himmat Singh.
However, MI handled the chase.
A dominant 143-run opening stand between Ryan Rickelton (83 off 32) and Rohit Sharma (84 off 44) took the match early. Even a brief wobble in the middle overs did little to derail the chase, with MI reaching 229 with eight balls to spare.
The win helped MI snap a losing streak, but with the team still in ninth place with three wins from 10 matches, Pandya’s return could be the key to any late push in IPL 2026.
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Player Stats | Purple Cap | Orange Cap | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
– The end
Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
May 5, 2026 11:39 AM IST
