Dharamsala: Mumbai Indians all-rounder Shardul Thakur clarified that skipper Hardik Pandya's absence in the last three matches was due to injury, adding that he could return for their next game against Kolkata Knight Riders while dismissing speculation over the star's future with the franchise.
Pandya did not travel to Dharamsala for MI's six-wicket win over Punjab Kings, where Jasprit Bumrah became the team's third captain this season after Suryakumar Yadav also missed the game following the birth of his child.
