WATCH | Hardik Pandya Shares Batting Practice Clips After Missing MI Matches

Hardik Pandya shared batting practice clips on Instagram after missing Mumbai Indians’ last two IPL 2026 matches due to back spasms.

Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya eased some fitness concerns after sharing videos batting practice in the nets on Instagram. The all-rounder missed MI’s last two IPL 2026 matches because of a back spasm issue, with the franchise already eliminated from the playoff race after losing eight of their 11 games.

Despite the positive training clips, uncertainty still surrounds Pandya’s return. Mumbai’s support staff continue monitoring his recovery closely, while Suryakumar Yadav has led the side in his absence.

Hardik pandya practicing in the nets. He just put a stop on alll the rumours 🌚 pic.twitter.com/AjG8Fg9gW9

— Gagan Choudhary (@trigguuuu) May 12, 2026

Earlier, MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene confirmed that Pandya struggled with a back problem and could not train regularly before the team’s defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

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Jayawardene explained that the medical staff worked continuously on the issue, but the discomfort did not settle in time. He added that Mumbai avoided taking risks with Pandya because the all-rounder had missed multiple training sessions in the days leading up to the RCB clash.

Did Hardik Pandya Unfollow Mumbai Indians?

Earlier reports also claimed captain Hardik Pandya briefly unfollowed the franchise on Instagram following the last-ball defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Although no screenshots confirmed the claim, the rumours quickly gained attention across social media.

The situation became more interesting after Pandya uploaded this late-night training video from the nets. The clip showed him batting without any visible discomfort.

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The discussion also reached England, where former captains Michael Vaughan and Alastair Cook reacted strongly during the Stick to Cricket podcast. Cook described the reported Instagram move as a major sign of disrespect in modern sport, while Vaughan called it a “low blow”.

Vaughan also criticised Mumbai Indians’ overall campaign despite a star-studded squad featuring Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah. MI now face another playoff failure after missing qualification for the fourth time in the last six IPL seasons.