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Hardik Pandya confirmed Suryakumar Yadav will lead Mumbai Indians against Chennai Super Kings in their IPL 2025 opener.
Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya at Wankhede (BCCI)
Hardik Pandya confirmed Suryakumar Yadav will lead Mumbai Indians (MI) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season opener against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Chepauk in Chennai on March 23.
MI skipper Hardik will miss the opening game as he will be serving a one-match ban after the side recorded a slow over-rate in their IPL 2024 final league game against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), which was also his third offence of the season.
“Surya leads India as well. When I am not there he is the ideal choice,” Pandya said during MI’s pre-season press conference in Mumbai on Wednesday.
“I think that is something out of my control. Last year what occurred was part of the sport, I think we bowled one and a half or two minutes late. At that point of time I did not know the consequences of what could happen. It is unfortunate, but it is the rule. Now will they continue with this rule next year, I think it is up to the higher authorities. They can see into it, and how it can be done,” Pandya added.
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.
“Yeah, we’ve been officially communicated that he has to miss so like Hardik said, Sura will lead the team, and we’re looking forward to that,” Jayawardene said at the press conference.
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.
“I’m very confident. I was confident back then. I was confident when I was playing Champions Trophy. I’m confident now. So if you ask me about my confidence, it’s always going to be high,” Hardik said when asked about his captaincy.
When asked about having the likes of SKY, Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya, who have had leadership roles in the past for the country, Hardik said: “I’m lucky that I have three captains who are playing with me. So, yeah, it adds more and more experience for me that if I require help, I know that there are three different minds who have led India for different formats, and with so many years of experience, can be always there and they can put the arm around my shoulder and always be there for help. So I look at it that way.”
Hardik was retained by MI for INR 16.35 crore. MI, under the leadership of Hardik, could only manage to win four out of 14 matches in IPL 2024 and with 8 points, finished at last (10th).
Hardik was retained by MI for INR 16.35 crore.
Jasprit Bumrah too will be missing from the first game, due to injury.
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MI’s first two IPL 2025 will be played away from home – in Chennai against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 23 in Chennai, before travelling to Ahmedabad to face off against Gujarat Titans (GT) on March 29.
MI’s first home match at the Wankhede Stadium will be against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 31, before traveling to Lucknow for facing Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 4 and then coming back to home to host Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on April 7.
(With inputs from Agencies)
