Hardik Pandya‘s importance in the Mumbai set-up is not just because Hardik Pandya is the skipper of the team, it is also because he is a top-class all-rounder who can serve the team at multiple levels. Mumbai Indians are all set to continue their ongoing IPL (Indian Premier League) 2025 campaign by taking on Gujarat Titans.
Both sides will take on each other at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 29. It is interesting to note that both Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians will be coming into the game on the back of losses in their previous game. However, it is Mumbai Indians who will take on Gujarat with a huge boost to their lineup, as skipper Hardik Pandya will be available for selection. Interestingly, Hardik Pandya missed the first game of the tournament due to overrate suspension.
It was a turbulent IPL 2024 season for Hardik Pandya after he replaced Rohit Sharma as the Mumbai Indians captain. The decision was not accepted by a part of the fanbase and following a number of disappointing results, the all-rounder Hardik Pandya was booed by a section of the crowd at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
However, Hardik Pandya bounced back from the poor IPL show to play a big role in guiding the Indian cricket team to the T20 World Cup 2024 as well as the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Hardik Pandya’s downfall and resurgence in span of 6 months from IPL to WT20
The criticisms had begun after Mumbai Indians shockingly replaced Rohit Sharma with Hardik Pandya as the captain last December for the IPL 2024 season. While the move was lashed out at by veteran cricketers and experts, Hardik Pandya was attacked on social media. The online attack soon turned into boos during each of Mumbai’s matches and remained a constant as the side finished bottom of the table for the second time in three seasons.
However, Hardik Pandya bounced back from the IPL drama in stunning fashion to play a pivotal role in India’s run to a second T20 World Cup win. One of his best performances came in the final, against South Africa, where he dismissed the dangerous Heinrich Klaasen before picking two wickets in the final over to successfully defend 16 runs as India won by seven runs.
Despite his struggles, Hardik Pandya proved decisive during the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies, especially in crucial moments for Team India, including the final. Overall, he scored 144 runs at a strike rate of 151.57 in six innings and picked up 11 wickets throughout the tournament. It was followed by the success of ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Suryakumar Yadav led Mumbai Indians in their IPL 2025 season opener against arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings in Chennai. Regular skipper Hardik Pandya is unavailable for this fixture due to a one-match ban imposed on him at the end of last season due to slow over rate.
Hardik Pandya Banned for 1 match due to slow over rate in IPL 2024
Regular captain Hardik Pandya will miss MI’s season opener as he was banned for one match for his repeated over-rate offences last year. MI were deemed short of the required over rate in their last match in IPL 2024 against the Lucknow Super Giants at the Wankhede Stadium. Captain Hardik Pandya was also slapped with a 30% fine on his match fee, as it was his third offence last year.
Hardik Pandya received a one-match ban because of a slow over-rate offence in Mumbai Indians’ last game of IPL 2024 against Lucknow Super Giants. Since it was his third slow over-rate offence of the season, he was fined ₹30 lakh and suspended for one match. This ban carries over to IPL 2025, forcing him to miss the season opener.
With Jasprit Bumrah also unavailable due to injury, Suryakumar’s candidature isn’t a surprise, especially since he has taken over the reins of T20I captaincy in the last year. Hardik Pandya 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.
He will be making his return for the five-time champions in their upcoming game against Gujarat Titans, and ahead of the clash, Mumbai Indians’ head coach Mahela Jayawardene took centre stage and praised Hardik Pandya for turning around his form after a subpar IPL 2025 campaign.
Mahela Jayawardene heaps praise on Hardik Pandya ahead of much anticipated clash against Gujarat Titans
When Mahela Jayawardene, at the pre-match media conference, said, “Everyone is available except for Bumrah,” it was both good news and bad news for Mumbai Indians, ahead of their away game against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.
Not getting the services of a player like Jasprit Bumrah is a huge disadvantage for any team. But with everyone else “available”, Mumbai will get back their regular captain Hardik Pandya for the game. Hardik Pandya sat out Mumbai’s loss in their season opener against Chennai Super Kings.
Hardik Pandya’s importance in the Mumbai set-up is not just because he is the skipper of the team, it is also because he is a top-class all-rounder who can serve the team at multiple levels. Mumbai lacked spunk in their lower middle-order batting in their previous game. Hardik Pandya, an acclaimed big-hitter, can help them on that front. As a medium-pace bowler, Hardik Pandya has been in fine rhythm of late and can form a good pair with New Zealander Trent Boult.
However, it is Mumbai Indians who will take on Gujarat with a huge boost to their lineup, as skipper Hardik Pandya will be available for selection. Interestingly, Hardik missed the first game of the tournament due to overrate suspension.
He will be making his return for the five-time champions in their upcoming game against Gujarat Titans, and ahead of the clash, Mumbai Indians’ head coach Mahela Jayawardene took centre stage and praised Hardik Pandya for turning around his form after a subpar IPL 2025 campaign.
“I think it’s just a game of cricket. Fans are fans and the emotions are part of it and I’m sure that everyone has gone beyond that. It’s amazing to see how the loyalty and everything works even in IPL, which is fascinating, and I’ve enjoyed that from the outside. Twelve months on, he has achieved a lot more and I’m sure everyone will see beyond what has happened last year. We can enjoy a good game of cricket and everyone can enjoy a good game of cricket,” Jayawardene said at the pre-game press conference.
MI have never beaten GT in Ahmedabad in three attempts since IPL 2023, but Jayawardene wasn’t too perturbed by it. Furthermore, Jayawardene talked about the performance of debutant Vignesh Puthur in MI’s first game of the season. It is worth noting that Vignesh took three wickets in four overs in his first game for MI, and he will hope to get more outings for the side in the upcoming matches.
When Mahela Jayawardene, at the pre-match media conference, said,
“Everyone is available except for Bumrah,” it was both good news and bad news for Mumbai Indians, ahead of their away game against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.
Not getting the services of a player like Jasprit Bumrah is a huge disadvantage for any team. But with everyone else “available”, Mumbai will get back their regular captain Hardik Pandya for the game. Hardik sat out Mumbai’s loss in their season opener against Chennai Super Kings. So Mumbai have their arsenal ready to raid the Titans’ fort in search of their first win of the season.