NEW DELHI: In a big boost for Mumbai Indians, their skipper Hardik Pandya will be available for the IPL 2026 match against Rajasthan Royals at the ACA Stadium in Barsapara, Guwahati, the franchise’s bowling coach Paras Mhambrey confirmed on Monday.“He will be available, he had a clean session for a good couple of hours yesterday. He is fit and fine. Just to clarify, Hardik was not injured, he was sick, that’s why he missed the game,” Mambrey said at the pre-match press conference.
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Fleming explains where CSK lost the match in the last 4 overs Pandya, a key figure in the team, had missed MI’s previous match due to illness and his absence was seen in the six-wicket loss to Delhi Capitals on Saturday.While India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav stepped in and ensured continuity, the five-time IPL champions lacked Pandya’s all-round ability on the unsavory surface.His absence also forced a change in the combination. Deepak Chahar, drafted into the game, produced a solid spell, but the decision to bring in pace all-rounder Corbin Bosch instead of seasoned left-arm paceman Trent Bouult backfired and runs eluded the South Africans.Despite picking two wickets at the start of the second essay, MI could not stop DC from chasing the 163-run target with eleven balls and six wickets to spare.Shardul Thakur, who played with the ball in his opening match, was expensive in the last match while the ever-reliable Jasprit Bumrah was economical but is yet to open his account this season.In the spin department, Mitchell Santner justified his selection ahead of Afghanistan all-rounder Allah Ghazanfar and is likely to retain his place.However, the MI bowlers will have to raise their game against Rajasthan’s top order, who have been in excellent form so far.RR openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi have made explosive starts, with Dhruv Jurel building on the momentum.New captain Riyan Parag is yet to make a significant contribution with the bat but will take credit from his management, especially his tactical decisions at the death which led Royals to a thrilling win over Gujarat Titans.Among the bowlers, Tushar Deshpande and Ravi Bishnoi were impressive.Bishnoi has emerged as the joint leading wicket-taker with five scalps from two matches, marking a strong turnaround after a tough 2025 season in which he worked on several aspects of his game.Meanwhile, Deshpande showcased his death-bowling skills as he successfully defended 10 runs in the final against the Titans, conceding only four with a series of accurate yorkers.With Mumbai, currently sixth in the points table, looking to bounce back and second-placed Rajasthan riding a wave of confidence, the outcome of the contest could depend on how effectively the MI bowlers handle the in-form Royals top order.
