Mumbai, March 19 – Mumbai Indians will be without their regular captain, Hardik Pandya, in their opening match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season due to a one-match suspension. As per agency report, Pandya was penalized for a slow over-rate violation during the previous IPL season, rendering him unavailable for the team's first match against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday. In his absence, vice-captain Suryakumar Yadav will take over the leadership role.
Suryakumar, who recently led the Indian national T20 team to a 4-1 series victory over England at home, will now have the opportunity to captain Mumbai Indians in their season opener. However, his recent batting performances have not been at their best, as he managed only 38 runs across five matches in the England series.
Addressing the situation at a pre-season press conference, Pandya acknowledged Suryakumar's leadership credentials, pointing out that he has already captained the Indian national team. Mumbai Indians' head coach Mahela Jayawardene also confirmed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had officially informed the franchise about Pandya’s suspension due to multiple slow over-rate offenses in the 2024 season.
Mumbai Indians had a difficult campaign last year, winning only four matches while suffering ten defeats. It was Pandya’s first year as the team’s captain after he replaced Rohit Sharma, who had led the franchise to five IPL titles.
