Will Hardik Pandya play tonight in PBKS vs MI match of IPL 2026?
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Hardik Pandya missed MI’s previous game due to back spasms.
Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Mumbai Indians (MI) are set to clash in the Indian Premier League 2026 tonight at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.
Shreyas Iyer & Co. aim for a big comeback after losing their previous four games. A victory against MI will send them closer to a playoffs berth. PBKS have won six and lost four out of 11 games so far. With 13 points, they take the fourth spot in the points table.
On the other hand, MI have been eliminated from the tournament after losing their previous game against RCB. They take the ninth spot in the points table. They have won just three and lost eight out of 11 games so far.
Notably, captain Hardik Pandya missed the previous two games in IPL 2026 due to back spasms. In his absence, Suryakumar Yadav captained the side in both games.
Will Hardik Pandya play in the PBKS vs MI match?
Pandya is expected to miss the clash against Punjab on May 14. The MI skipper did not travel with the squad to Dharamsala and instead stayed back in Mumbai to continue his recovery.
The all-rounder posted videos of himself undergoing intense training sessions in Mumbai. Hence, he is still working towards regaining full fitness.
Earlier, MI management stated that Pandya would return to the field after medical clearance. If Pandya misses tonight’s game, Suryakumar will once again lead the side.
Meanwhile, Pandya has struggled with his form in IPL 2026. In eight games so far, he has scored 146 runs at a strike rate of 136.44, failing to hit any fifty. With the ball, he has clinched only 4 wickets at an economy of 11.90.
Will Hardik Pandya play in the PBKS vs MI clash?
Pandya is highly likely to miss the encounter.
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Vikas Singh Derek is a core cricket-lover since childhood and has always followed the sport both in his personal and professional life. He started his school life by watching cricket at home with family. Later, he played cricket on the field at local clubs during college. After his Master's in Journalism from Mumbai, he followed his passion by covering cricket news across various digital media. Since 2015, he has been an aspiring sports journalist and cricket content writer with over 50K+ articles.