Will Hardik Pandya play today against Punjab Kings in Dharamsala?

Mumbai Indians are acceptable to look Punjab Kings successful Dharamsala arsenic they look to reconstruct immoderate pridefulness aft being officially eliminated from the IPL 2026 playoff race. However, up of the important clash, determination remains large uncertainty implicit the availability of skipper Hardik Pandya.Pandya missed Mumbai’s erstwhile 2 matches against Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru owed to persistent backmost spasms, and as earlier reported by this masthead, helium is highly improbable to diagnostic against Punjab Kings successful Dharamsala.The regular MI skipper did not question with the squad to Dharamsala and alternatively stayed backmost successful Mumbai to proceed his betterment process. While the remainder of the squad headed north, Pandya posted videos of himself undergoing an aggravated three-hour solo grooming league astatine the Reliance Corporate Park, indicating that helium is inactive moving towards regaining afloat fitness.

In Hardik’s absence, Suryakumar Yadav has been starring Mumbai Indians arsenic interim captain. However, determination is uncertainty surrounding his availability arsenic well. Suryakumar stayed backmost successful Mumbai aft precocious becoming a begetter pursuing the commencement of his babe miss with woman Devisha Shetty.

Interestingly, SKY had besides remained distant from the squad earlier MI’s erstwhile lucifer against RCB successful Raipur but travelled separately connected lucifer time to diagnostic successful the game.

A akin anticipation remains unfastened up of the Dharamsala clash. The Punjab Kings are presently successful 4th place, holding onto the last playoff spot, portion the Mumbai Indians beryllium down successful 9th spot and person already been officially eliminated from the tournament. A triumph contiguous volition propulsion Punjab Kings to 15 points, strengthening their presumption successful the apical 4 and putting unit connected the chasing teams similar Chennai and Rajasthan. While Mumbai cannot qualify, they tin inactive harm Punjab's playoff aspirations by pulling disconnected an upset tonight.