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The Mumbai Indians reached Dharamsala on May 12 to prepare for their IPL 2026 match against Punjab Kings. The news about captain Hardik Pandya missing the match created immediate excitement among people.

The team playoff race ended for MI which caused people to start rumors about Pandya having a conflict with team management. The absence of Pandya from the trip to Dharamsala made people discuss his situation more strongly.

The actual explanation for his situation differs from what people believe. Hardik Pandya is currently dealing with a back spasm injury. This medical condition has caused him to miss the previous two matches against LSG and RCB. The MI medical team is currently tracking his progress while he remains in Mumbai. He has postponed his travel plans to Dharamsala.

The Mumbai Indians captain will join the team later if his recovery progresses successfully. The franchise will maintain their current approach because they want to protect his long-term fitness. The clash against PBKS holds no significance for MI because they have already been eliminated from the playoff race with their three victories in 11 matches which position them ninth on the points table.

The Mumbai Indians team to Dharamsala included only Hardik Pandya who remained behind. Yadav who took charge when Hardik was absent did not travel to Himachal Pradesh because of personal matters. Suryakumar welcomed a baby girl last week, and he may have chosen to stay in Mumbai to spend time with his family. The Cricbuzz report added that he is expected to join the squad a few days later.

Suryakumar performed the same action during MI's road game against RCB when they played in Raipur. During that week, his wife Devisha gave birth to their first child, and Suryakumar stayed back with his family to celebrate the special moment.

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The Mumbai Indians dressing room has become a hotbed of internal problems because of their underperforming season. Some reports even claimed Hardik Pandya had a disagreement with the franchise owners and could face removal as captain.

The absence of the player from the team has become the basis for connecting his situation with those rumors. The social media claims continue to exist because MI confirmed that Hardik is currently suffering from a back spasm injury. 

The Mumbai Indians franchise has experienced difficulties since Hardik Pandya took over as captain from Rohit Sharma in 2024. The team faces additional tension because rift rumors keep coming up throughout their season. The Mumbai Indians will try to win their upcoming IPL 2026 matches to protect their remaining dignity.