Hardik Pandya OUT! Suryakumar Yadav appointed Mumbai Indians captain vs Delhi Capitals

Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Hardik Pandya is reportedly set to miss the upcoming match against Delhi Capitals (DC) in IPL 2026. In Pandya’s absence, middle-order batter Suryakumar Yadav will lead the five-time IPL champions in the afternoon game at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Saturday, April 4.

Mumbai made a positive start to their IPL campaign with a win over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at home. They chased down a target of 221 without much pressure throughout the innings. Ryan Rickelton and Rohit Sharma attacked from the start and added a 148-run partnership, including 80 runs in the powerplay.

Hardik Pandya to Miss Match vs Delhi Capitals, Suryakumar Yadav to Lead

According to Devendra Pandey from Indian Express, Hardik Pandya will not play in the match against Delhi Capitals. The journalist confirmed that Suryakumar Yadav will lead the side.

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"Am told Surya might lead today. Hardik not playing #MIvsDC," he wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Am told Surya might lead today. Hardik not playing #MIvsDC

— Devendra Pandey (@pdevendra) April 4, 2026

Pandya did not take part in Mumbai Indians’ preparations in Delhi. The team held two practice sessions ahead of the match, but the all-rounder was absent from both.

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MI Begin IPL 2026 in Style With Dominant Chase Against KKR

Mumbai Indians opened their IPL 2026 campaign with a dominant performance against Kolkata Knight Riders. Chasing a target of 220, the team showed intent from the beginning and never allowed the pressure to build.

Rohit Sharma scored 78 runs, while Ryan Rickelton added 81. Their aggressive approach helped Mumbai take control early and move close to the target comfortably. The chase was completed with six wickets in hand and five balls remaining.

Hardik Pandya played a finishing role with an unbeaten 18 off 11 balls. However, he struggled with the ball, conceding 39 runs in three overs while taking one wicket.

If Pandya misses the match against Delhi Capitals, it could affect the team balance, as he contributes in both departments and leads the side. Despite that concern, Mumbai Indians have a strong record against Delhi Capitals, winning four of their last five matches and both encounters in 2025.

He's Not Well - Suryakumar Yadav on Hardik Pandya

Suryakumar Yadav confirmed at the toss that Hardik Pandya is unavailable for the match due to health concerns. He stated that Pandya is not in good condition and not fit to play.

"[Update on Hardik Pandya] He's not well. Doesn't look good. So, he isn't fit for today's game. So I'm getting into his shoes," Yadav said.

Mumbai Indians will bat first after losing the toss. The team made a few changes to their lineup for this match. Deepak Chahar replaced Pandya, while Corbin Bosch came in for Trent Boult as part of a tactical decision. Mitchell Santner was also included in place of Allah Ghazanfar.

Mumbai Indians Playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Sherfane Rutherford, Mitchell Santner, Corbin Bosch, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah

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