Hardik Pandya Out vs RCB With Back Spasm: MI in Crisis

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-05-11

Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya missed the must-win IPL 2026 match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Sunday, May 10. The game was played at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur. Pandya suffered a back spasm injury and was not cleared to play by the team's medical staff. As a result, star batter Suryakumar Yadav took over as stand-in captain for the second match in a row. ### Medical Team Denies Clearance for Hardik Pandya The Mumbai Indians franchise released an official statement just before the toss in Raipur. It confirmed that the medical team had not approved Hardik to play. This update followed a period of uncertainty about the all-rounder's fitness, as he also missed the previous match against Lucknow Super Giants. Hardik traveled to Raipur with the squad but was still being evaluated by doctors. They told him to rest to manage his workload during a tight schedule. This marks the third game Pandya has missed in the ongoing IPL 2026 season. He was also unavailable for a match against Delhi Capitals earlier due to illness. - **Missed games in IPL 2026:** 3 (vs DC, vs LSG, vs RCB) - **Injury history:** Previous back surgery in 2019 for a lower-back issue - **Captaincy change:** Suryakumar Yadav leads MI for the second straight match  ### Suryakumar Yadav Leads Mumbai Indians in Raipur Interim captain Suryakumar Yadav handled the toss against RCB captain Rajat Patidar. Patidar chose to bowl first on the black-soil wicket. When asked about the toss, Suryakumar said he was confident his team would put runs on the board. The MI playing XI remained unchanged from their last victory against LSG. Suryakumar recently rejoined the squad after the birth of his daughter, but he had to jump straight into leadership duties due to Pandya's injury. The team faces a virtual must-win situation to stay in the playoff race. > "We have a good batting lineup, and we're confident we can chase down any total," Suryakumar said at the toss. ### History of Back Injuries and Surgery Hardik Pandya is no stranger to back problems. He has a long history of lower-back injuries that have forced him out of cricket several times. In October 2019, he traveled to London for major back surgery to fix an acute lower-back injury. That surgery kept him out of action for nearly four months. He first sustained the injury during the Asia Cup in 2018, and it resurfaced during a series against South Africa in 2019. The back spasm in 2026 has raised questions and concerns for MI management and fans. The medical team is being very careful with his recovery because he has had surgery before. ### Mumbai Indians Playoff Struggle and Team Chaos The absence of the captain comes at the worst possible time for Mumbai Indians. The team currently sits in 9th place on the points table with only three wins out of ten matches. To qualify for the playoffs, they effectively need to win every remaining game and hope other results go their way. **Current MI standings:** - Matches played: 10 - Wins: 3 - Losses: 7 - Points: 6 - Position: 9th ### Internal Friction and Dressing Room Unrest Reports suggest tension within the Mumbai Indians camp. The decision to replace Rohit Sharma with Hardik Pandya as captain before the season began did not sit well with many fans. This led to Pandya facing boos from the crowd throughout the tournament. The team's poor performance has only added to the pressure, with rumors of internal discord swirling. Despite the chaos, the players remain focused on the task at hand. They know that every match from here on out is a must-win to keep their playoff hopes alive.