Despite the franchise maintaining that Pandya is recovering from a minor back issue, his vigorous training has triggered speculation over whether there is more to his absence than officially stated. The timing of his recovery also becomes crucial as Mumbai Indians continue to struggle, currently placed near the bottom of the table, making their remaining matches more about damage control and squad assessment than playoff contention.
In Pandya’s absence, leadership responsibilities have shifted to Suryakumar Yadav, who himself has had an interrupted schedule recently due to personal reasons, including the birth of his child. His availability for the Dharamsala fixture remains uncertain, though the franchise is hopeful of his return closer to match day.
