Will Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya play against Punjab at Dharamshala? Mumbai predicted XI for PBKS vs MI in IPL 2026

KEY TAKEAWAYS: Hardik Pandya trained for three hours but did not travel with MI to Dharamsala. Both Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav were absent from the squad's travel group. Mumbai sit ninth, and their remaining games may be used to test bench players.

IPL 2026 HUB: Latest IPL News | IPL Points Table | Team Stats | IPL 2026 Squads Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav absent on the road to Dharamsala as MI gear up to face PBKS Hardik Pandya did not board the flight to Dharamsala with the rest of the Mumbai Indians squad ahead of their IPL 2026 fixture against Punjab Kings. However, Pandya released a video on Instagram where he is seen training alone in the nets. He reportedly trained for over three hours at the Reliance Corporate Park in Mumbai, which further raised questions about his dynamic with the team management.

MI have consistently maintained that Pandya is working through a back spasm, the same issue that kept him out of their matches against Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. A back problem that prevents someone from playing cricket, however, would typically not allow for a session lasting more than three hours of full-intensity batting. Suryakumar Yadav, who recently welcomed a baby girl and returned to Mumbai shortly after the Raipur game, has also not travelled to Dharamsala.

However, the interim captain had rejoined the side on match day for the RCB game, and the franchise believes that he will do the same ahead of the Punjab Kings fixture. MORE: PBKS vs MI Dream11: Lineups, pitch report and score predictions for IPL 2026 match Will Jasprit Bumrah be rested against PBKS? With Mumbai already eliminated and sitting ninth on the points table, the team management might take a look at fringe players, assess younger talent, and give some of the senior names a breather after a gruelling and largely disappointing campaign.