2 min learnCould 10, 2026 07:26 PM IST
Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya was dominated out of the IPL 2026 conflict in opposition to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Raipur on Sunday after failing to obtain clearance from the franchise’s medical staff.
“Hardik has not been cleared by the medical staff to take the sector,” MI stated in an announcement earlier than the match.
In Pandya’s absence, Suryakumar Yadav captained the aspect. Talking on the toss, the stand-in skipper stated MI have been backing themselves regardless of the strain surrounding the sport.
“We’re fairly assured to bat first. Large floor, black soil wicket and runs on the board will at all times be strain on the opposite staff,” Suryakumar stated.
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“We’re going with the identical staff. We now have at all times had a very good chat across the bowling. It’s harsh on the bowlers. We maintain making an attempt to enhance and get higher every day,” he stated on the toss, which his aspect misplaced and have been put into bat by RCB.
The MI skipper had additionally sat out the earlier recreation in opposition to Lucknow Tremendous Giants, with the franchise then attributing his absence to sickness and again spasms.
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“Hardik Pandya is unwell with again spasm, therefore Suryakumar Yadav is captain for at present’s recreation,” MI had stated in an announcement forward of that fixture.
This was the third match Pandya missed throughout IPL 2026 and the second in succession. He had earlier missed MI’s conflict in opposition to Delhi Capitals in Delhi final month as a result of sickness as effectively. Surya had led MI in that match and scored a fifty, nevertheless it went in useless as DC chased down the rating within the second innings.
The all-rounder’s health issues arrive at a essential stage of the match, with MI battling to remain alive within the playoff race. He has had a disappointing IPL 2026, having scored solely 146 runs in 11 matches this season and picked up 4 wickets with the ball.