The Impressive TimesNew Delhi : Suryakumar Yadav is set to lead Mumbai Indians (MI) in their opening game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Sunday, March 23, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The decision comes as regular captain Hardik Pandya will serve a one-match suspension, which was imposed due to a poor over-rate violation in the final league match of IPL 2024.
During the pre-season press conference on Wednesday (March 19), Hardik confirmed that Suryakumar Yadav was the ideal candidate to lead in his absence. “Suryakumar Yadav is India’s T20I captain. So, it is ideal for him to lead the MI team in my absence in the first game against CSK,” Hardik stated.
Mumbai Indians’ head coach Mahela Jayawardene also acknowledged the suspension, confirming that they were officially informed about the one-match ban from IPL 2024. MI’s last league stage match was against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), where they suffered an 18-run defeat. That game marked their third over-rate offence of the season, automatically triggering a one-match suspension for the captain. As MI failed to qualify for the playoffs, the penalty carried over to the 2025 season opener.
Suryakumar Yadav, who has established himself as one of India’s premier T20 batters, has prior leadership experience with MI. He captained the team once in IPL 2023, securing a win. With his recent elevation as India’s T20I captain, MI management believes he is well-equipped to handle the responsibility in Hardik’s absence.
After a controversial switch from Rohit Sharma to Hardik Pandya as Mumbai Indians’ captain last season, Hardik faced significant scrutiny. However, in this year’s pre-season interactions, he appeared more assured. Acknowledging the leadership depth within the squad, he said, “I am lucky that I have three captains playing with me — Rohit, Surya & Bumrah. They always place an arm around my shoulder & are there when I need any help.”
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