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Mumbai Indians got a major boost on Sunday night in Guwahati when Hardik Pandya was spotted back in the nets ahead of Tuesday's Match 13 against Rajasthan Royals.

The MI captain, who missed the Delhi Capitals game due to illness, with Suryakumar Yadav stepping in as stand-in captain, looked in fine spirits during the training session, bowling his yorkers at good pace and hitting the middle of the bat freely under the watchful eye of batting coach Kieron Pollard.

According to ESPNcricinfo, his return to the playing XI for tonight's game looks almost certain. Which brings up the most important tactical question in the MI camp right now: who makes way for him?

Why Deepak Chahar must stay in MI's Playing XI

The answer to this question is more straightforward than it might seem. Deepak Chahar should not be the one dropping out and here is why. Chahar has been one of MI's most effective bowlers in the early stages of IPL 2026 and is currently the third-highest wicket-taker in powerplay in IPL history, with 69 to his name.

In the last game against DC, he was the one bowler who genuinely troubled the batters with the new ball, picking up the wicket of KL Rahul in the very first over and ending the record-breaking streak Rahul had against him.

Dropping Chahar would leave MI without a genuine new-ball swing threat against RR's explosive opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and that is a risk MI simply cannot afford to take.

RR vs MI: Why Bosch is the one to make way for Hardik Pandya

Corbin Bosch was brought in specifically as a like-for-like replacement for Hardik in the DC game, a pace-bowling all-rounder who could bat in the middle order and contribute overs.

With Hardik back, that role becomes redundant immediately. Bosch also struggled badly with the ball in the DC game, conceding 39 runs in 3.1 overs at an economy of 12.32, which does not help his case for retention.

Replacing Bosch also frees up an overseas slot, which could allow MI to bring Trent Boult back into the starting lineup, something that would significantly strengthen the bowling attack and give Hardik and Bumrah more support at the death.

The tactical logic points clearly in one direction: Hardik comes in for Bosch.

Also READ: Will Will Jacks play today's RR vs MI game? Latest update on Mumbai Indians all-rounder

What Hardik Pandya's return means for MI ahead of RR game

Beyond the straight swap, Hardik's return restores something that cannot be replicated by any like-for-like replacement: Mumbai's primary tactical structure. His ability to bowl cutters and heavy balls in the middle overs, his finishing ability with the bat, and his overall captaincy presence in the dressing room and on the field are things that MI looked visibly short of in the DC defeat.

He has been working specifically on his yorkers in training since the T20 World Cup, telling the team physio that landing yorkers consistently makes every other delivery easier to bowl.

With the ACA Stadium in Guwahati expected to assist spinners as the game progresses, Hardik bowling in tandem with Mitchell Santner in the middle overs gives MI a very different and more threatening look than they had in Delhi.