New Delhi: Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya and stand-in skipper Suryakumar Yadav are likely to miss the IPL 2026 clash against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala on May 14. According to a Cricbuzz report, Rohit Sharma is likely not to be asked to lead the franchise.
Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and batter Tilak Varma are the leading contenders, although there is no clear information on who will be chosen. Bumrah has led the Indian team in the past and is likely to be a preferred choice. He joined the franchise in 2013 and has spent 13 years with the team.
The pacer has played 156 matches for MI but has never captained the franchise. He has led the Men in Blue in two Test matches against Australia during the 2024-25 series, and in a red-ball game against England in Birmingham in 2022, before deciding against taking up a full-time captaincy role.
Why will Hardik and Suryakumar miss PBKS match?
According to the same report, both Hardik and Suryakumar have not travelled with the squad to Dharamshala. As per Cricbuzz sources, their tickets had been booked, but there is no confirmation of them joining the team in the hill city.
The Indian T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, has recently been blessed with a baby girl, and MI have always been sensitive towards family matters. The franchise might have granted permission to Suryakumar to spend some time with his family. MI have already been out of the IPL 2026 playoff race.
Hardik Pandya has been troubled by back spasms after MI’s match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on May 2. The all-rounder has missed the last two matches against LSG and RCB. He recently trained at Reliance Corporate Park, but the MI’s medical team is still assessing him and hasn’t given full clearance. The match in Dharamshala will be more crucial for PBKS as they are still in contention for the playoffs.