Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene had earlier confirmed that Hardik has been struggling with a back issue and remains under treatment.
“Hardik had a back issue which we were trying to rectify, but it hasn’t settled in yet. The medical guys were working on him. He couldn’t train the last few days, so we didn’t want to take a risk,” Jayawardene had said after MI’s loss to RCB.
He further added, “We’ll see. It’s on a day-to-day basis. See how he feels. And then we’ll make a decision on that.”
With MI already eliminated from the IPL 2026 playoff race, the franchise is unlikely to rush their captain back without full fitness clearance. Still, Hardik’s latest training update has sparked optimism among fans, and it remains to be seen whether he links up with the squad before the Punjab Kings clash.