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Mumbai Indians received a boost with skipper Hardik Pandya’s return ahead of their clash against a confident Rajasthan Royals unit, who will be keen to extend their early-season momentum in their IPL 2026 match in Guwahati on Tuesday.
Pandya, a key figure in the side, missed MI’s previous outing due to illness, and his absence proved crucial in their six-wicket defeat to Delhi Capitals on Saturday.
While India T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav stepped in to lead and ensured continuity, MI missed Pandya’s all-round abilities on a tacky surface.
“He will be available. He had a good couple of hours of net sessions yesterday, so he is fit and fine. He wasn’t injured, he was unwell, that’s the reason he missed the game,” said Mumbai bowling coach Paras Mhambrey in the pre-match press conference.
His absence also forced a rejig in the combination. Deepak Chahar, drafted in for the game, delivered a tidy spell, but the decision to bring in pace all-rounder Corbin Bosch in place of seasoned left-arm pacer Trent Boult backfired, with the South African leaking runs.
“Well, I think that is something that you will have to take care of. Injuries are something that you can’t control. But I think we got the team, we got enough guys out there to mix and match, and looking at the surface combinations, but I think we got enough guys to kind of look around.
“I think it was just a combination change. Obviously, Hardik gives you the option of a bat and a bowler – the all-rounder. Since he wasn’t available, we needed a kind of replacement who could fill in that role for us. It is purely a tactical decision that we went with,” added Mhambrey.
Pandya has since travelled with the squad and returned to the nets, offering hope of a comeback as MI look to recalibrate their approach after the loss.
Shardul Thakur, who starred with the ball in their opening game, was expensive in the last outing, while the ever-reliable Jasprit Bumrah has been economical but is yet to open his account this season.
In the spin department, Mitchell Santner justified his selection ahead of Afghan mystery spinner Allah Ghazanfar and is likely to retain his place.
The MI bowlers, however, will need to raise their game against a Rajasthan top order that has been in excellent form so far.
Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi have provided explosive starts, with Dhruv Jurel then building on the momentum.
New skipper Riyan Parag is yet to make a significant contribution with the bat but will take confidence from his leadership, particularly his tactical decisions at the death that guided the Royals to a thrilling win over Gujarat Titans.
Among the bowlers, Tushar Deshpande and Ravi Bishnoi have been impressive.
Bishnoi has emerged as the joint leading wicket-taker with five scalps from two matches, marking a strong turnaround after a challenging 2025 season following which he worked on multiple aspects of his game.
Deshpande, meanwhile, showcased his death-bowling skills by successfully defending 10 runs in the final over against the Titans, conceding just four with a series of pinpoint yorkers.
With Mumbai, currently sixth on the points table, seeking to bounce back and second placed Rajasthan riding a wave of confidence, the contest’s result could hinge on how effectively MI’s bowlers handle the Royals’ in-form top order.
Kolkata and Punjab share point: The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) shared a point each as the 12th match of the IPL was called off due to rain at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Monday.
The match was just into the fourth over when rain poured down at the ground. The drizzle intensified, forcing the umpires to take the players off the field as covers were swiftly brought on. The ground staff acted quickly, laying out sheets across the pitch, square and run-ups, and within moments, the entire playing area was covered.
The point was shared between the teams as PBKS continue to reign on top with KKR slipping to eighth position. KKR would have welcomed the break, having been in deep trouble at 25/2 after losing two key overseas batters early. Punjab, on the other hand, would have been frustrated by the interruption, having dominated proceedings and keen to maintain the pressure.
Agencies
