Rohit Sharma Snubbed As Hardik Pandya Names His Captaincy Replacement For CSK Clash

Suryakumar Yadav will captain Mumbai Indians in their opening IPL match against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday as regular skipper Hardik Pandya will be forced to sit out due to a one-match suspension for over-rate offences committed by the team last season. Suryakumar is the national T20 captain and recently led the side to a 4-1 triumph over England at home. However, his batting form wasn't particularly impressive and he managed just 38 runs in the five outings during the series.

"Surya leads India as well. When I am not there he is the ideal choice," Pandya said during MI's pre-season press conference here.

MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene said the BCCI has communicated the one-match ban on Pandya to the team owing to three slow over-rate violations by his team last season.

MI had finished at the bottom of the heap, managing just four wins against 10 losses in 2024, which was Pandya's debut year as captain.

He took over from Rohit Sharma, who led the side to five trophies but was struggling at that stage.

Jayawardene did not give a time frame for Jasprit Bumrah's return to competitive cricket, and said the pace spearhead's absence will be a massive "challenge" for his side in the IPL 2025.

Bumrah will miss a few initial games of the tournament as he is currently recuperating from a back injury at the BCCI Centre of Excellence at Bengaluru. "Jasprit Bumrah is at the NCA. We have to wait and see their feedback on him. At the moment it is going well, the progress is on a day to day basis," said Jayawardene during MI's pre-season press meet here on Wednesday.

"He is in good spirits, and not having him is a challenge. He is the best bowler in the world," he added..

Bumrah has been sidelined since the final Test against