Reasons why Hardik Pandya will not captain Mumbai Indians against CSK in IPL 2025

New Delhi: Mumbai Indians (MI) have established themselves as one of the most successful franchises in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL), with five championship victories under their belt. However, their recent performances have been less than stellar, with their last title win coming in 2020. Disappointingly, in the 2024 IPL season, the team finished in 10th place after suffering defeats in 10 of their 14 matches. In a surprising move, Hardik Pandya was appointed as the captain for the IPL 2024 season, taking over from Rohit Sharma. This decision was met with criticism from MI supporters, who expressed their discontent by booing Pandya. Reports of internal discord within the team further added to the negative atmosphere surrounding the franchise.

In preparation for IPL 2025, the team has retained players such as Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Rohit Sharma. They also acquired notable players like Trent Boult and Mitchell Santner during the auction. The previous tensions between Hardik and Rohit have been resolved following their leadership in India’s triumph at the T20 World Cup 2024 and the ICC Champions Trophy, positioning MI favorably for a potential sixth title.

The Mumbai Indians (MI) will begin their season against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 23. Although Hardik Pandya serves as the team’s captain, he will not be playing in the match against CSK, necessitating the selection of a substitute captain. Pandya received a one-match suspension due to slow overrate during MI’s last IPL 2024 game against LSG. This marks the third occasion that MI has been penalized for falling behind the over rate, leading to the suspension of their captain.

Who Will Captain MI vs CSK?
Mumbai Indians have several players who could potentially lead the team against Chennai Super Kings. While Rohit Sharma is their most accomplished captain, it seems improbable that he will resume this role after the events of the previous season. Jasprit Bumrah has a solid record in leadership as well, but he is likely to be unavailable for the initial matches of the IPL due to injury. This situation leaves Suryakumar Yadav as a viable option, as he is also the captain of the Indian T20I team. Considering these factors, Suryakumar Yadav is expected to captain the Mumbai Indians in their opening match against Chennai Super Kings.