NEW DELHI: Mumbai Indians got a timely boost on the field with a decisive win in IPL 2026, but concerns over skipper Hardik Pandya continue to linger after he missed the clash against Lucknow Super Giants with a back spasm. MI opener Ryan Rickelton offered the latest update, admitting uncertainty about the severity of the problem while remaining hopeful of a quick return.After the match at the Wankhede Stadium, Rickelton revealed that he had only recently come to know about Pandya’s condition. “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 it. I don’t want to call it an injury; I’m not aware of the extent of how bad it is or what he’s feeling. But I’m sure he’ll be with the group again when we head to Raipur this week,” he said.
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Ryan Rickelton gives update on Hardik Pandya, praises Rohit SharmaIn Pandya’s absence, Suryakumar Yadav stepped in as the stand-in captain to confirm the face-off situation. “Hardik is not well tonight, so I will step into his shoes,” he said.The franchise had earlier issued a brief statement saying, “Hardik Pandya is unwell with back spasms, hence Suryakumar Yadav is the captain for today’s match.” These developments added to a challenging season for Pandya, who struggled as both captain and all-rounder.Despite concerns about the terrain, MI performed brilliantly. Chasing a daunting 229, Rickelton led from the front with a blistering 83 off 32 balls while Rohit Sharma’s 84 powered the side to victory in just 18.4 overs. A dominant chase kept MI’s slim playoff hopes alive.Earlier, Lucknow Super Giants posted 228/5, thanks to explosive knocks from Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh. However, the MI firepower proved too strong during the night.While the result offered relief, attention now shifts back to Pandya’s fitness. With the team set to travel to Raipur, Rickelton’s update suggests cautious optimism – but no clear timetable yet.
