Suryakumar Yadav to Captain Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025 Opener Against CSK

Mumbai Indians have officially announced that Suryakumar Yadav will captain the team in their IPL 2025 season opener against Chennai Super Kings on March 23 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. This change comes as Hardik Pandya serves a one-match suspension due to a slow over-rate violation in the previous season.

Hardik’s One-Match Suspension

The suspension stems from Mumbai Indians’ final league game in IPL 2024 against Lucknow Super Giants, where they were penalized for their third slow over-rate offence of the season. As per IPL regulations, a captain faces a one-match ban for repeated over-rate violations. Since MI did not qualify for the IPL 2024 playoffs, Hardik’s ban now applies to the first match of IPL 2025.

Speaking at a pre-season press conference on March 19, Hardik Pandya confirmed the decision, stating that Suryakumar Yadav is the ideal choice to lead the team in his absence. He highlighted Surya’s leadership credentials, mentioning, “Suryakumar Yadav is India’s T20I captain, so it is ideal for him to lead the MI team in my absence.”

Surya’s Captaincy Experience

This won’t be the first time that Suryakumar Yadav has led Mumbai Indians. He previously captained the team in IPL 2023 during an interim period and successfully guided MI to a win in that match. Known for his aggressive batting and sharp cricketing mind, he will now have another opportunity to showcase his leadership skills on a big stage.

MI’s Strong Leadership Core

Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene confirmed that the franchise was formally notified about Hardik’s suspension from the IPL governing body. However, the team remains confident in its leadership strength. Hardik himself expressed optimism about MI’s experienced leadership group, which includes Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah.

"I am lucky that I have three captains playing with me—Rohit, Surya & Bumrah. They always place an arm around my shoulder and are there when I need any help," Hardik said.

With this solid support system in place, MI will look to start their IPL 2025 campaign on a strong note against CSK in Chennai.