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In a major development, Suryakumar Yadav will captain Mumbai Indians (MI) in their IPL 2025 season opener against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Chennai. Regular skipper Hardik Pandya will miss the high-voltage clash due to a one-match ban imposed on him last season for a slow over-rate violation.
With Jasprit Bumrah also unavailable due to injury, Suryakumar’s appointment as stand-in captain isn’t surprising. The star batter has already led India’s T20I team multiple times, making him the ideal choice to take charge in Hardik’s absence.
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Hardik Pandya Confirms Suryakumar’s Captaincy Role
At MI’s pre-season press conference, Hardik Pandya and head coach Mahela Jayawardene addressed the captaincy situation. When asked about who would lead MI in the opener, Hardik confirmed:
🗣 “Suryakumar Yadav leads India as well. He will lead Mumbai Indians in the first match.”
Hardik Pandya to Return for MI’s Second Match
Following the CSK encounter, Hardik Pandya will return as MI’s captain for their second match, an away fixture against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on March 29.
MI fans will be eager to see how Suryakumar Yadav performs as a leader in the much-anticipated “El Clásico” of the IPL against MS Dhoni-led CSK on March 22 at Chepauk.
