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Shardul Thakur confirms Hardik Pandya injury absence and hints return versus KKR amid MI future rumors
Sports
Published on 15 May 2026
Hardik skipped three games for back spasm only
Shardul Thakur addressed mounting concerns over Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya after he missed the last three matches. Thakur said Pandya’s non-availability was purely injury-related, citing a back spasm that kept him from travelling to Dharamsala and previously sidelined him for games against Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Training in Mumbai now, Thakur indicated Pandya could return for the next match against Kolkata Knight Riders. He also dismissed social media speculation about Pandya’s future with MI.
- Thakur said Hardik Pandya missed three matches due to injury
- Pandya did not travel for MI’s Dharamsala game vs Punjab Kings
- He previously missed LSG on May 4 and sat out RCB after travelling to Raipur
- Thakur expects a possible return for MI vs KKR on May 20 at Eden Gardens
- Social media rumors tying Pandya to CSK or DC were brushed aside
- Hardik’s IPL returns include 146 runs in eight innings and four wickets
Read the full story at The Economic Times
This summarization was done by Beige for a story published on 
The Economic Times