Goa, May 4 -- Hardik Pandya is not leading the Mumbai Indians in their crucial IPL 2026 clash against the Lucknow Super Giants at the Wankhede Stadium. The all-rounder has been ruled out of the match due to a back spasm, adding to MI's growing concerns as they look to bounce back from three consecutive defeats.

In an official statement released before the toss, MI confirmed that Hardik is unwell, with Suryakumar Yadav stepping in as captain for the game. At the toss, Suryakumar reiterated the update, stating that Hardik was not fit to play but avoided going into specifics about the injury.

The timing of Hardik's absence couldn't be worse for Mumbai, who are under pressure to revive their IPL 2026 campaign and stay in contention for the ...