Hardik Pandya’s absence from Mumbai Indians’ last few IPL 2026 matches has become one of the biggest talking points around the franchise. The MI captain has now missed three games in a row because of a back issue, which has led to fitness questions and a flood of trade rumors on social media.

Mumbai are already out of the playoff race, but Hardik’s situation still matters because it affects the team’s leadership, balance and planning for next season. After MI’s six-wicket win over Punjab Kings in Dharamshala, Shardul Thakur finally offered a clearer update on the all-rounder.

KKR vs MI: Shardul Thakur breaks silence on Hardik Pandya’s absence

Shardul Thakur addressed the noise around Hardik Pandya after Mumbai Indians beat Punjab Kings by six wickets. He made it clear that Hardik’s absence is because of injury and not because of the trade speculation that has been doing the rounds online.

‘There is a lot of chatter on social media. Some are true and some are false. But only the team management decides in the end,’ Shardul said at the post-match press conference.

Speaking specifically about Hardik, he added, ‘If we talk specifically about Hardik Pandya, he had an injury and he did not travel with the team. He traveled to Raipur, but he was not able to play there. He is now in Mumbai training. I am expecting him to return to action in Kolkata and play the game.’

That statement is important because it gives MI fans the first real timeline for Hardik’s comeback. He is not confirmed yet, but Shardul clearly expects him to be available for the KKR match at Eden Gardens on May 20. For a player of Hardik’s quality, even in a poor season, that is still a significant boost.

Shardul also admitted that MI miss Hardik’s all-round value when he is unavailable. ‘Players like them, we always miss the quality,’ he said. That is true, even if Hardik’s numbers this season have not matched his reputation.

IPL 2026: Why Hardik Pandya has missed 3 straight MI matches

Hardik last played for Mumbai Indians on May 2 and has since missed three matches. He did not play against Lucknow Super Giants, Royal Challengers Bengaluru or Punjab Kings. Suryakumar Yadav led MI in the first two games in Hardik’s absence, while Jasprit Bumrah captained the side against PBKS in Dharamshala.

The exact nature of the injury has not been fully detailed by the franchise, but MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene had earlier referred to it as a back issue. Shardul also confirmed that Hardik had been injured and could not travel for a couple of games. He did travel to Raipur for the RCB match, but was not cleared to play.

That part is important. Hardik was close enough to be with the squad in Raipur, but the medical staff clearly did not want to risk him. He then stayed back in Mumbai instead of traveling to Dharamshala and has been training at Reliance Corporate Park.

There have been viral clips and reports of Hardik training late into the night, which naturally increased the speculation. Some fans asked why he was training if he was not available to play. But recovery is not that simple. A player can bat or train in controlled conditions and still not be cleared for match intensity, especially with a back issue where bowling, diving, sprinting and sudden movement all matter.

Trade rumours, poor form and what comes next for Hardik Pandya

Hardik’s injury absence has also been mixed with heavy rumors about his MI future. Social media chatter has linked him with a possible trade away from Mumbai Indians, including loose speculation around Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals. Shardul did not completely dismiss the noise in a dramatic way, but he made the sensible point that final decisions belong to the management.

For now, there is no official indication that Mumbai Indians are planning to trade Hardik. His current absence is being treated as injury-. Reports have also suggested that the franchise is not discussing such a move while the season is still ongoing.

Still, the speculation has grown because Hardik’s IPL 2026 has been forgettable. With the bat, he has scored only 146 runs in eight innings at an average of 20.85 and a strike rate of 136.44. With the ball, he has picked up just four wickets and has leaked runs at an economy rate of 11.90. For a captain and senior all-rounder, those returns are far below expectations.

Mumbai’s season has also gone badly. They are already out of playoff contention, and the captaincy has moved from Hardik to Suryakumar and then to Bumrah in recent games. That kind of instability always feeds rumors. But the win over Punjab, powered by Tilak Varma’s stunning unbeaten 75 off 33 balls, at least gave MI something positive to carry forward.

So, will Hardik Pandya play against KKR at Eden Gardens? The answer is: he is expected to return, but not officially confirmed yet. Shardul Thakur has said he expects Hardik to be back in Kolkata, but the final call will depend on MI’s medical team and management. For now, the massive update is that Hardik is training, recovering, and could make his comeback on May 20 against KKR.