IPL 2025: Suryakumar Yadav to captain Mumbai Indians in season opener

IPL 2025: Suryakumar Yadav to captain Mumbai Indians in season opener

Suryakumar Yadav will lead Mumbai Indians in its first match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season as full-time skipper Hardik Pandya will miss the contest due to a one-match ban.

“Surya will be the ideal choice when I am not there,” Hardik told the media on Wednesday.

Hardik was banned for one match for maintaining a slow over-rate in Mumbai’s last match of the 2024 season, against Lucknow Super Giants. Since it was Hardik’s third offence of the season, he was fined Rs. 30 lakh and handed a one-match ban, which has spilled over into this season’s opening game.

Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene also confirmed that the franchise has been formally informed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about Hardik’s unavailability for the campaign opener against Chennai Super Kings.

“Last year, what occurred was part of the sport. We bowled one and a half minutes or two minutes late in the last over. At that point of time, I didn’t know the consequences, what could happen,” Hardik said.

“It is unfortunate, but I think the rules says (so). That means I have to go with the process. Next year, do they continue or not continue? I think it’s up to the higher authorities, they can definitely see what can be done and see how we can take it forward…” he added.

Back in 2023, Suryakumar, who is currently the captain of the Indian T20I team, skippered Mumbai Indians in a solitary IPL match.