Hardik Pandya has not travelled with the Mumbai Indians side to Dharamsala, where the five-time champions will face Punjab Kings on Wednesday. The MI players and support staff landed in the Himachal city on Monday afternoon and the skipper was seen missing from the group.
Having missed the last two matches due to back spasms, Pandya's absence from the travelling group could indicate a longer layoff, although those in the know insist there is still enough time for him to join the squad before the game.
Even ahead of the previous match, Pandya had linked up with the squad late, although he eventually did not feature in the game. It is understood that his injury is currently being assessed by the support staff in Mumbai. It is being said that he may still end up travelling to Dharamsala.
The uncertainty surrounding Pandya comes amid intense speculation on social media, but sources insist there is nothing more to read into it, maintaining that it is a straightforward injury issue. Pandya, meanwhile, has not exactly helped his cause with his performances this season. In eight games, he has managed 146 runs with the bat and picked up just four wickets with the ball.
Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav too has not travelled to Dharamsala, although his absence is understandably for personal reasons, having recently been blessed with a child. Suryakumar, the India T20I captain, who has been leading the side in the absence of Pandya, is expected to arrive in Dharamsala later.
Having only recently become a father, Suryakumar had arrived in Raipur on the day of the previous match (May 10), with the franchise allowing him the flexibility of reporting late. He could follow a similar schedule this time as well.
Mumbai Indians are currently placed ninth on the points table with three wins from 11 games and have been eliminated from playoffs running with three more matches remaining - against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on May 20 and versus Rajasthan Royals at Wankhede Stadium on May 24, apart from Wednesday night's clash against Punjab Kings.
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Meanwhile, news from the CSK camp is that MS Dhoni is likely to travel to Lucknow unless the CSK icon changes his mind at the last minute. Dhoni, who is recovering from a calf injury, has been a reluctant traveller this IPL season, having accompanied the side for only two away games - in Hyderabad and Mumbai. He has also missed CSK's home games at MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Franchise CEO Kasi Viswanathan confirmed to this website that the management has booked Dhoni's ticket on an IndiGo commercial flight to Lucknow along with the rest of the squad - around 60 members in all - and are hopeful that the former captain will make the trip.
Dhoni has not played a single game this season, and there is a growing sense of anticipation that he could feature at least in one, if not more, of CSK's remaining three matches - against Lucknow SuperGiants on May 15, versus Sunrisers Hyderabad at home on May 18, and finally against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on May 21.
CSK are currently placed fifth on the points table with six wins and, with three games remaining in the season, are still within striking distance of a playoff berth.
