IPL 2025 CSK vs MI: Indian T20 skipper Suryakumar Yadav set to lead MI versus CSK in the absence of Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya suspension: Five-Time winners Mumbai Indians (MI) will start their campaign in IPL 2025 with a fiery match against arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The Mumbai-based team will be captained by Suryakumar Yadav in this match as regular skipper Hardik Pandya is suspended for one match. This ban was imposed last season in the match versus LSG due to slow over rate. It has been implemented in the first match of the Mumbai team this season. However, Pandya will again take charge of the team from next match onwards.
At the same time, fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah will miss the opening matches of the tournament as he has not recovered yet from the injury he suffered during the BGT series. Mumbai's head coach Mahela Jayawardene has described Bumrah's absence as a challenge for the team.
Pandya revealed the decision about making Surya the captain for the opening match.
Captain Hardik Pandya himself gave the information about handing over the captaincy to Surya for the first match of the franchise against CSK. In the press conference of MI held in the presence of the fast-bowling all-rounder and head coach Mahela Jayawardene on March 19, the 31-year-old said, ''He (Surya) is currently the captain of the Indian T20 team. In such a situation, in my absence, he is the right candidate for this (captaincy)".
Bumrah is currently rehabbing at BCCI's Centre of Excellence
Jayawardene revealed in the press conference on Wednesday that, Bumrah is currently rehabbing at the Centre of Excellence in Bangalore. "We are hoping to receive a positive feedback about his fitness. At the moment everything is going well, he is recovering day by day. He's in good condition. But, him not playing is a challenge for the team.
Bumrah got injured in the final match of BGT
Elite Indian pacer Bumrah hurt himself during the final match of the 2024-2025 Border Gavaskar Trophy seris in Sydney versus Australia while bowling. He suffered an injury in his lower back and due to this, he was forced to sit out of the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025. While many reports claimed that he would be fit before the commencement of the tournament in Pakistan, the BCCI selectors decided not to take risk with him and went ahead with KKR pacer Harshit Rana as his replacement.
MI to play their first two matches of IPL 2025 away from home
The 2025 edition of the Tata Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 will commence with reigning champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) led by Ajinkya Rahane taking on Rajat Patidar-led Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the opening encounter in Kolkata. Mumbai Indians (MI), on the other hand, will start off their campign versus CSK in Chennai on the 23rd of March.Then on March 29, they will play against Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad.
The first home match of the Hardik Pandya-led outfit will be against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 31. The team will then play against Lucknow Super Giants on April 4 in Lucknow and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on April 7 in Mumbai.
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