Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
IPL 2025 is set to kick off on March 22 with an exciting match between two rivals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) will play their first match on March 23 against Chennai Super Kings at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. Unfortunately, Hardik Pandya, captain of MI, will miss the match due to a match ban he received in the last match of the IPL 2024.
Why will Hardik Pandya miss first match of Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025?
Hardik Pandya, the captain of the Mumbai Indians, was handed a one-match ban last season due to team's slow over-rate against the Lucknow Super Giants. He was fined INR 30 Lakh and given a one-match ban as he is the captain of the side after third offence in teh cash-rich league.
Who will captain Mumbai Indians in absence of Hardik Pandya?
Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav is a T20I captain of India and is a prominent member of the Mumbai Indians. The 34-year-old has the brightest chance of leading the side in the absence of Hardik against Chennai Super Kings on March 23. He did an amazing job as a captain for India in T20Is. He has led India in 23 T20Is and won 18 of them with a 78.26 win percentage.
Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma has won five IPL titles for Mumbai Indians as a captain in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020. Hardik Pandya replaced him as captain of MI ahead of IPL 2024. Now the all-rounder is set to miss the match; there might be chances of Rohit Sharma once again leading MI. However, with all the captaincy drama that happened last season, there are fewer chances of this.
Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah is currently regarded as the best fast bowler in the world, especially in the shortest format of the game. He has been a proven match-winner for Mumbai Indians with 165 wickets in 133 matches with an economy of just 7.30. The 31-year-old recently led the team in the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 and did an amazing job. So there might be chances of Jasprit Bumrah leading the Mumbai Indians for the first time.
