After a disappointing loss last evening against the Delhi Capitals, MI has some good news for its paltan as the skipper, Hardik Pandya rejoined the camp this morning and is expected to lead the side in their upcoming IPL 2026 match against Rajasthan Royals (RR) on 7 April 2026.

Pandya was absent during MI’s last match against the Delhi Capitals on April 5 primarily due to illness. Stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed at the toss that Pandya was "not well" and "did not look in good condition" to take the field. The Mumbai Indians (MI) management decided to give him a break so he could return "fresh and fine" for upcoming fixtures. He reportedly missed two vital practice sessions at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi leading up to the game.

Some reports suggest his absence also aligns with a long-term workload management plan monitored by the BCCI to ensure his fitness for the 2027 ODI World Cup. In his absence, Suryakumar Yadav led the side, and veteran swing bowler Deepak Chahar was drafted into the playing XI as his replacement. MI ultimately lost the match by six wickets.Despite the recent loss, MI started their 2026 campaign strongly by winning their opening game against KKR, breaking a 13-year "opening match jinx".

MI to face the Royals on April 7 at Guwahati

Mumbai Indians (MI) will face Rajasthan Royals (RR) in their next match on Tuesday, 7 April 2026, at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati. The MI squad arrived in Guwahati on Saturday night (4 April) to begin their preparations. MI would be looking to bounce back after a 6-wicket loss to Delhi Capitals. Meanwhile, the Royals recently defeated the Gujarat Titans by 6 runs on 4 April 2026, and will be looking to maintain their momentum at their home-away-from-home.

In their last five encounters, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) hold a 3–2 lead over the Mumbai Indians (MI). While RR dominated both fixtures in the 2024 season, MI secured a massive 100-run victory in their most recent meeting in May 2025. MI would be looking forward to tying this score and winning the match against them in Guwahati.