Why is Hardik Pandya Not Playing in RCB vs MI IPL 2026 Match?
In Pandya’s absence, Yadav has stepped up to the role of the leader. Suryakumar’s return provides a significant boost to the Mumbai camp, as he recently rejoined the squad after a short personal leave following the birth of his daughter on 7 May.
Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the RCB vs MI IPL 2026 fixture against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium. The star all-rounder continues to be sidelined due to a persistent illness, marking his second consecutive absence from the Mumbai starting XI. You can read Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Mumbai Indians match scorecard here.
Why is Hardik Pandya Not Playing in RCB vs MI IPL 2026 Match?
Stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed at the toss in Raipur that MI are playing an unchanged XI from their MI vs LSG encounter, confirming Pandya's exclusion. The skipper initially sustained the injury last week, forcing him to miss Mumbai’s previous six-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants on 4 May.
In Pandya’s absence, Yadav has stepped up to the role of the leader. Suryakumar’s return provides a significant boost to the Mumbai camp, as he recently rejoined the squad after a short personal leave following the birth of his daughter on 7 May. Suryakumar Yadav Distributes Sweets to Paparazzi To Celebrate Birth of Daughter, Video Goes Viral.
Mumbai currently sits ninth on the points table and must win all four of their remaining matches to stay in playoff contention. Meanwhile, RCB enter the game in fourth place and will look to exploit the absence of Mumbai's regular leader to secure their postseason berth.
The match marks a historic return for the IPL to Raipur after a decade. The venue is known for its large boundary dimensions, which may pose a challenge for a Mumbai bowling attack that has been inconsistent this season.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 10, 2026 07:08 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
