New Delhi: Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene has revealed that captain Hardik Pandya is currently dealing with a back injury, which forced him to miss his second consecutive match in the Indian Premier League 2026.
Hardik was unavailable for Mumbai’s clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Raipur, with Suryakumar Yadav once again leading the side in his absence. Mumbai Indians suffered a narrow two wicket defeat, a result that officially ended their playoff hopes and confirmed their elimination from the tournament.
Speaking after the match, Jayawardene said the all rounder has been struggling with a back issue and has been under the care of the medical team over the past few days. He explained that Hardik was unable to take part in training sessions and the management chose not to risk aggravating the injury.
The Mumbai coach added that the situation is being monitored on a day to day basis and a decision on Hardik’s return will depend on how his condition progresses.
Despite the absence of their regular skipper, Mumbai managed to post a competitive total of 166 for 7 on a difficult batting surface. However, Bengaluru chased down the target on the final ball to secure victory and strengthen their own playoff campaign.
Following the defeat, Jayawardene admitted that the season had been disappointing for the five time champions. He said the team failed to maintain consistency with both bat and ball and missed several opportunities during crucial moments in the campaign.
Mumbai Indians became the second team after Lucknow Super Giants to be knocked out of the playoff race this season. The defeat also intensified scrutiny over the team’s selections and the handling of senior players during the campaign.
Jayawardene acknowledged that Mumbai were only a few victories away from remaining in contention for a top four finish, but repeated failures in close matches ultimately proved costly for the former champions.
