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Mumbai Indians will travel to Dharamsala looking for a few positives after a disappointing Indian Premier League 2026 campaign, but the spotlight will once again be on skipper Hardik Pandya and his availability. The five-time champions have already been knocked out of the tournament after enduring one of their worst seasons in league history.

With eight defeats in 11 matches, Mumbai’s campaign has fallen apart well before the playoff stage. A squad packed with international stars was expected to challenge for the title, but instead their poor run has sent shockwaves through the cricketing fraternity.

Their elimination was confirmed after a heartbreaking last-ball defeat against RCB in Raipur. That result ended MI’s faint playoff hopes and summed up a season where close moments rarely went their way.

Hardik Pandya’s availability remains major talking point before PBKS clash

Hardik suffered a back spasm before Mumbai’s clash against Lucknow Super Giants at the Wankhede Stadium a week ago and missed that match. Since then, he has also remained unavailable for the following game.

Now, another major update has emerged ahead of the clash against Punjab Kings. Hardik did not travel with the Mumbai squad to Dharamsala, making it increasingly clear that he will not be part of the PBKS vs MI fixture.

That effectively means Hardik Pandya is not to feature in the PBKS vs MI clash.

Interestingly, Hardik recently shared a video on Instagram where he was seen practicing in the nets in Mumbai. The clip quickly drew attention among fans, with many questioning whether he is still carrying the injury or simply being rested for the remainder of the season.

Suryakumar Yadav also absent from squad as personal break continues

Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav also did not travel with the squad to Dharamsala due to personal reasons.

The T20 World Cup-winning captain recently became a father after welcoming a baby girl. He is expected to spend time with his family during this phase and has stayed back from the team’s travel plans.

Suryakumar has also gone through a difficult run with the bat in recent games, and the short break may help him regroup after a challenging season.

MI's campaign has raised major questions despite star-studded squad

MI entered IPL 2026 with strong expectations. On paper, they had one of the most balanced squads in the tournament, with proven match-winners across batting, bowling and all-round departments.

The season even began on a positive note, with Mumbai opening their campaign with a win over Kolkata Knight Riders. But that momentum disappeared quickly as the side went on to lose four consecutive matches.

Although they managed to pick up three wins during the campaign, inconsistency remained their biggest issue. The batting line-up failed in crucial moments, while the bowling attack never looked settled for a sustained period.

Hardik’s captaincy has also come under scrutiny throughout the season, with several tactical decisions questioned after defeats. For a franchise known for consistency and title runs, this campaign has turned into one of the most disappointing chapters in their history.

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