Hardik Pandya indulges in late-night batting session amid continued absence from Mumbai Indians squad

Hardik Pandya has dismissed rumours of a rift with Mumbai Indians (MI) and eased worries about his fitness by sharing a video of himself training at full intensity ahead of his team’s match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Thursday, May 14 in Dharamsala in the Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL).

The all-rounder missed MI’s last two matches due to a back issue. His absence also triggered speculation that his poor captaincy had created divisions within the MI camp and he was having issues with the team management. His latest practice video, however, appears to signal that everything is fine on both the fitness and team fronts.

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Hardik quells rift rumours

MI have endured a disappointing IPL 2026 campaign and are already out of playoff contention. With just six points from 11 matches, the five-time champions are languishing at ninth place in the 10-team standings.

Hardik has faced sharp criticism for his captaincy decisions, marking the second time in three years that MI have struggled near the bottom of the table under his leadership.

While the team awaits his return for the clash against an out-of-form Punjab Kings side, reports suggest Hardik has not travelled with the squad to Dharamsala. It remains uncertain whether he will join in time for the match.

Late on Tuesday night, he was spotted practising intensely at the Reliance Corporate Park in Mumbai around 1:30 AM.

Earlier, MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene had confirmed that Hardik was dealing with a back problem. “Hardik had a back issue which we were trying to rectify, but it hasn’t settled in yet. The medical guys were working on him. He couldn’t train the last few days, so we didn’t want to take a risk,” Jayawardene said after MI’s loss to RCB last week.

In Hardik’s absence, Suryakumar Yadav has led the side. The all-rounder’s availability for Thursday’s game remains doubtful, meaning Yadav is likely to captain the team once again.