Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya misses MI’s IPL 2025 season opener against CSK due to a one-match suspension from IPL 2024. Find out why he was banned from playing in MI’s first game of the season.
read more
Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya misses out on his team’s
IPL 2025 season opener against Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday. Despite being fully fit and available for selection, Pandya missed the blockbuster clash due to a one-match suspension carried over from the previous IPL season.
Why is Hardik Pandya suspended?
Hardik Pandya’s absence stems from Mumbai Indians’ slow-over rate offence during their final group-stage game of IPL 2024 against Lucknow Super Giants. It was MI’s third over-rate violation in 14 matches, triggering an automatic one-match ban for the captain.
As a result, India’s T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav will lead MI in Pandya’s absence for the opening match. “Surya will be the ideal choice when I am not there,” Pandya had stated during the pre-season press conference.
Pandya returned to Mumbai Indians ahead of IPL 2024 after leading Gujarat Titans to their maiden IPL title in 2022 and a runner-up finish in 2023. His comeback to MI was met with huge fanfare, but his appointment as captain in place of Rohit Sharma, one of the most successful IPL captains, sparked mixed reactions among fans.
Under Pandya’s leadership, MI endured a tough 2024 season, finishing at the bottom of the table with just four wins from 14 games. Despite the disappointing campaign, the MI management decided to retain him as captain for the
IPL 2025 season.
While his IPL 2024 campaign was forgettable, Pandya has had a remarkable run with the Indian team. He played a crucial role in India’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph and recently contributed significantly to India’s Champions Trophy 2025 victory.