Suryakumar Yadav is set to lead Mumbai Indians in their opening match of IPL 2025 in the absence of their regular skipper Hardik Pandya. MI skipper Hardik Pandya will miss his first game of IPL 2025 following a one-match ban imposed on him at the end of last season due to slow overrate.
Last season, Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya was fined INR 30 lakh and slapped with a one-match ban after his team maintained a slow over-rate against LSG at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on 17 May.
As the match against Lucknow Super Giants was the last league game for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024, the ban will carry forward to the next season. Though he plays for Mumbai Indians or any other team he will be sidelined in his first match of the IPL 2025.
As it was the team’s third such offence, captain Hardik has been fined 30 per cent of his match fee while the remaining of the playing 11 along with the Impact player have to pay INR 12 lakhs or 50 per cent of their respective match fees.
As per MI Schedule 2025, Mumbai Indians will play their first match of the season against Chennai Super Kings on 23 March in M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.
With Jasprit Bumrah also unavailable due to injury, Suryakumar Yadav has been named as the captain of Mumbai Indians for their opening clash against Chennai Super Kings.
Hardik confirmed the news of Suryakumar’s captaincy for the CSK game at the pre-season press conference that he attended with head coach Mahela Jayawardene.
“Suryakumar Yadav leads India as well. He will lead Mumbai Indians in the first match,” revealed Hardik when asked who the stand-in skipper would be for the marquee clash.
“I am lucky. I have three captains who are playing with me. It adds more experience (to the side). If I require any help, I know that there are three different minds who have led India in different formats with so many years of experience. They can put the arm around my shoulder and always be there for me. I look at it that way”, Hardik added.
