Mumbai Indians have begun their campaign in the IPL 2026 against Kolkata Knight Riders at their home ground of the Wankhede Stadium on March 29 (Sunday). MI will be looking to start off their season with a win, and for that they have fielded a quite competent playing XI. However, when Hardik Pandya won the toss and opted to bowl, and named the playing XI, there was one surprising omission from the list. The name was that of India’s T20 World Cup 2026 winning captain Suryakumar Yadav. However, fans can rest assured that this omission does not mean that he would not play the game.
Suryakumar Yadav has been named among the five substitutes in addition to the playing XI. According to the IPL rules, the India T20I captain can hence most likely come in as an Impact Substitute in the second innings.
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An impact substitute is a player named outside the playing XI who can come in during any point of an IPL game- start or end of an over, end of an innings, or after a fall of wicket. Since, MI are bowling first, they have named their best bowling XI. So, when they will come out to bat in the second innings, Suryakumar Yadav will most definitely walk out as the impact sub.
MI Missing Two Key Overseas Stars
Mumbai Indians will miss two key overseas players in New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner, and star England all-rounder Will Jacks will not be part of the game against KKR.
MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene had informed that both of these stars had asked for an extended break due to personal reasons.
Mumbai Indians Playing XI Vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton(w), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya(c), Sherfane Rutherford, Naman Dhir, Shardul Thakur, Mayank Markande, AM Ghazanfar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah.
Impact Subs: Suryakumar Yadav, Corbin Bosch, Robin Minz, Raj Bawa, Ashwani Kumar
