Wed Mar 19 21:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Suryakumar Yadav to Captain Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025 Opener
**Mumbai, India** – Suryakumar Yadav will lead the Mumbai Indians (MI) in their opening match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 against the Chennai Super Kings on March 23rd. This comes after regular captain Hardik Pandya received a one-match ban for repeated slow over-rate offences during the 2024 season. Pandya will return for MI’s second match on March 29th.
Pandya’s ban stems from three slow over-rate violations last season, which culminated in a 30% fine and the one-match suspension. He acknowledged the penalty, stating the last over of their final 2024 match was bowled 2-2.5 minutes late, a violation he was unaware of at the time.
MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene confirmed the BCCI communicated the ban to the team. He also addressed the uncertain return of ace fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, currently undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) following a back injury. While Bumrah’s progress is positive, his return date remains unconfirmed, potentially joining the team in the first week of April.
Despite the setbacks, Pandya expressed optimism, emphasizing the importance of playing good cricket and maintaining team unity. He highlighted the positive impact of having experienced players like Rohit Sharma and Bumrah, even in their absence, noting their mentorship. Suryakumar, currently the national T20 captain, will lead the team in Pandya’s absence, marking an exciting opportunity for the young captain. MI finished last in the 2024 season with only four wins, a stark contrast to their previous successes under Rohit Sharma.
First Piper 