New Delhi: Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya is reportedly set to return to action in his side’s upcoming clash against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati on Tuesday, April 07. Hardik missed MI’s last game against Delhi Capitals on Saturday due to illness.

The star Indian all-rounder missed the game due to viral fever. In his absence, Suryakumar Yadav led the five-time champions against DC. Mumbai Indians lost the game by six wickets to suffer their first defeat of the season. However, they have now been handed a timely boost ahead of their next game as Hardik is reportedly ready to make his comeback.

As per a report in the Times of India, Hardik has travelled to Guwahati with the rest of the MI squad and will resume training with the rest of the team after missing out on action in the last few days due to his illness. Speaking at the toss ahead of his side’s clash against DC on Saturday, Suryakumar spoke about Hardik’s absence in the playing XI.

“He (Pandya) isn’t well, does not look good, so he wasn’t fit for today’s game. So, just getting into his shoes today,” Suryakumar Yadav had said at the toss in Delhi. As per the report, the Mumbai Indians team management rested Hardik from the game as a precautionary measure after the all-rounder missed two training sessions leading up to the game due to his illness.

The MI team management didn’t want to take a risk with Hardik, considering the tournament is still in its early days.

The star all-rounder’s absence was felt dearly as MI slipped to their first defeat of the season. Mumbai Indians managed 162 runs on the board, batting first at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi and failed to defend the target as DC rode on Sameer Rizvi’s brilliant 90-run knock to chase down the target with 11 balls to spare.

Defending a moderate total, MI got off to a great start with the ball, reducing DC to 2/7 in the first two overs. However, Rizvi combined with opener Pathum Nissanka (44) and David Miller (21*) to share two crucial stands for the third and fourth wicket, respectively and take the game away from the five-time champions.

With their six-wicket victory against Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals bagged their second win in a row in the IPL 2026.