Hardik Pandya’s Injury Update: MI Coach Reveals Back Issue, Uncertainty Looms Over All-Rounder’s Availability

Mumbai Indians’ head coach Mahela Jayawardene has provided a crucial update on captain Hardik Pandya’s injury, revealing that the all-rounder has been dealing with a back issue and is undergoing treatment under the medical team’s supervision. Hardik’s absence was felt in MI’s latest match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, which they lost by two wickets, sealing their elimination from the IPL 2026 playoffs.
“Hardik had a back issue, we were trying to rectify it, but it hasn’t settled in yet,” Jayawardene said, adding that the team management didn’t want to take any risks with his fitness. The decision to rest Hardik for the RCB clash was taken to avoid any further complications. With Hardik’s availability uncertain, Suryakumar Yadav stepped in as captain, leading MI for the second consecutive game. Despite posting a challenging total of 166/7, MI’s campaign ended on a disappointing note, with RCB chasing down the target on the final ball. Jayawardene acknowledged the team’s shortcomings, citing inconsistency with the ball and bat as key factors in their playoff exit. “The season is disappointing. We’ve had our opportunities, but we were not good enough. We were not consistent enough with the ball or the bat, and that showed in the margins,” he said. As MI prepares to wrap up their IPL 2026 campaign, fans are left wondering about Hardik’s availability for future matches and the impact of his injury on the team’s performance.