Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya has not traveled with the team to Raipur for their upcoming IPL 2026 clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, India Today has learned, casting fresh doubts over his availability for one of the side’s most important matches of the season.
A contingent of Mumbai Indians gathered at Terminal 1 of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Friday ahead of their flight to Raipur, but Pandya was not present with the traveling group.
What makes the development more significant is that there is currently no sign of Pandya joining the squad closer to the match, leaving Mumbai with a big question mark over their captain’s availability ahead of the RCB clash.
Pandya also missed Mumbai Indians’ previous match against Lucknow Super Giants, where Suryakumar Yadav stepped in as stand-in captain and led the team to a comfortable six-wicket victory. At the toss, Suryakumar said, “He’s not well tonight, so I’m going to put on my shoes.”
Mumbai Indians later confirmed that Pandya was unavailable due to a back spasm. The problem is believed to have occurred just before the match, with the franchise initially describing the all-rounder as unwell before confirming the nature of the problem.
This was also the second match that Pandya missed this season as he previously sat out the match against Delhi Capitals. While back spasms are not always considered a serious injury problem, they can be difficult to manage, especially for an all-rounder who is expected to contribute heavily with both bat and ball. As the tournament enters its crucial phase, Mumbai are expected to take a cautious approach rather than risk worsening the problem.
MI playoff hopes
Pandya’s absence comes at a critical point in Mumbai Indians’ season, with the five-time champions still clinging to an outside chance of making the playoffs.
Mumbai’s win over Lucknow kept them alive in the racebut their margin for error is now virtually nil. If Mumbai Indians win all their remaining matches, they can finish the league stage with 14 points, which could still keep them in contention for a top four finish.
However, even that alone may not be enough.
Mumbai will also need results elsewhere to go in their favour, and will likely depend on a clean run-rate to stay in contention for the play-offs. With several teams still in the mix, MI not only need to win but may also need a convincing margin to improve their position.
This makes Pandya’s fitness all the more important as Mumbai head into the must-win stretch of the season.
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Player Stats | Purple Cap | Orange Cap | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
06 May 2026 15:40 IST
