Mumbai Indians arrived in Chennai ahead of their IPL 2025 opener against CSK scheduled to take place on March 23. Hardik Pandya, who has been handed a one-match ban, was seen traveling with the team despite the fact that he won’t be a part of the game. India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav will lead the team in Pandya’s absence.
Hardik Pandya & MI arrive in Chennai
Hardik got banned for one match because Mumbai was slow with their overs in their last game of the 2024 season against Lucknow Super Giants. This was Hardik’s third time doing this in the season, so he had to pay a fine of Rs. 30 lakh and miss a match. Because of this, he can’t play in the first game of the 2025 season.
Suryakumar has led Mumbai Indians in just one IPL match, which happened in 2023. Hardik Pandya became the full-time captain of the Mumbai Indians before the 2024 season, taking over from Rohit Sharma. Rohit had an impressive run, leading Mumbai to five IPL titles.
Often referred to as the “El Clasico” of the IPL, the rivalry between MI and CSK is a highlight of the tournament, delivering memorable matches season after season. As the upcoming IPL season approaches, all eyes will be on these two powerhouse teams to see who can maintain their winning momentum and ultimately claim the coveted trophy.
