Hardik Pandya doesn’t travel to Raipur for Mumbai Indians’ must-win clash against RCB; little hopes of joining the team

Hardik Pandya's availability for the IPL 2026 match against RCB is in doubt after missing travel due to back spasms.

Updated on: May 6, 2026, 16:08:19 IST

Written by Probuddha Bhattacharjee

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Hardik Pandya’s availability for the Mumbai Indians’ next IPL 2026 match has come under fresh doubt after the MI captain did not travel with the squad to Raipur for the clash against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, as reported by Cricbuzz.

Hardik Pandya in IPL 2026 match. (ANI Picture Service)

The development comes days after Hardik missed Mumbai Indians’ six-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants at the Wankhede Stadium because of back spasms. Suryakumar Yadav led MI in that match, and the franchise's official explanation was that Hardik was unwell with a back issue.

Hardik Pandya's absence adds to MI’s season pressure

Hardik’s absence is significant because of the stage of the Mumbai Indians’ season. MI are ninth in the IPL 2026 points table with three wins from 10 matches. They have only four league games left and can reach a maximum of 14 points if they win every remaining fixture.

That makes the RCB match a near-must-win game. Mumbai already have little room left for another defeat, and the uncertainty around their captain now adds another layer to a campaign that has not found stability.

Hardik had missed the previous game against LSG, but MI produced one of their best performances of the season without him. Lucknow posted 228/5, powered by Nicholas Pooran’s 63 off 21 balls, but Mumbai chased the target with six wickets in hand. Rohit Sharma returned from injury with 84 off 44 balls, while Ryan Rickelton struck 83 off 32 balls.

The win ended MI’s losing run, but it also sharpened the focus on Hardik. Suryakumar captained the side in his absence, Rohit delivered a match-winning knock, and Mumbai found a rare clean result in a season where they have struggled for rhythm.

Hardik’s own numbers have also invited scrutiny. He has scored 146 runs in eight matches this season at a strike rate of 136.45. With the ball, he has taken four wickets in eight games. For a player carrying both all-rounder responsibility and captaincy, those returns have not been enough to lift MI out of the lower half of the table.

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MI need clarity before the RCB clash

The uncertainty is sharper because RCB are not a forgiving opponent. They have been among the stronger sides this season and had already beaten the Mumbai Indians earlier in the campaign by 18 runs.

MI’s remaining fixtures also make the situation more urgent. After RCB, they are scheduled to face Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals. Even a perfect finish may not guarantee qualification, but anything less could end their playoff hopes before the final week.

Ryan Rickelton had said after the LSG match that he did not know the seriousness of Hardik’s back spasms and expected him to be back with the group for the Raipur trip. That has not happened yet.

For now, MI’s official position remains that Hardik Pandya’s absence is linked to back spasms. There is no confirmed indication of any other issue. But in the middle of a failing campaign, with the captain out of form and the team fighting for survival, his non-travel has become more than a routine fitness update.

Mumbai Indians now enter the RCB match with two questions hanging over them: whether Hardik will recover in time, and whether MI can keep their season alive without the player who was supposed to lead their campaign.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Probuddha Bhattacharjee
Probuddha Bhattacharjee is a sports writer and analyst with expertise spanning cricket, football, and multi-sport events, with a strong emphasis on data-driven journalism and tactical storytelling. He currently focuses on international cricket, the Indian Premier League, global tournaments, and emerging trends shaping modern sport, blending advanced statistics with strong narrative context to explain performance, strategy, and decision-making. His work aims to bridge the gap between numbers and storytelling, helping readers understand not just what happened on the field, but the tactical and structural reasons behind it. Trained in data journalism through the Google News Initiative (GNI) Data Journalism Lab, Probuddha works extensively with ball-by-ball datasets, performance metrics, and trend-based modelling to produce evidence-backed reports, explainers, and long-form features. His analytical approach focuses not only on outcomes but also on process—selection strategies, phase-wise tactics, workload management, and the influence of preparation and planning on match results. He is particularly interested in how statistical patterns reshape conventional cricketing narratives and provide clearer tactical insight for modern audiences. Beyond cricket, Probuddha has written analytical and news-driven pieces on football and other major sporting events, with a growing interest in sports governance, scheduling dynamics, and the economics of elite competitions. He also tracks how rule changes, franchise structures, and broadcast pressures influence the evolution of contemporary sport. He has previously contributed to platforms such as OneCricket, Sportskeeda, and CrickTracker, and continues to specialise in analytical storytelling, live coverage, and audience-focused reporting. His work prioritises clarity, context, and credibility, while consistently exploring innovative ways to present data through accessible narratives and structured match analysis.Read More

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