Is Hardik Pandya playing today's GT vs MI IPL 2025 match? Who will be MI captain?

Mumbai Indians opened their IPL 2025 campaign against arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk. The team endured a 4-wicket defeat as the home team produced a fine performance, headlined by the four-fer of spinner Noor Ahmad. However, Mumbai played without their key player, Hardik Pandya, in the campaign opener. The MI captain had to sit out of the first match due to a ban, one that carried forward from IPL 2024 to this season. Now, Mumbai Indians are gearing up for their second match of the 18th edition, scheduled against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. So, is Hardik Pandya in the clear to kick-start his campaign with the GT vs MI IPL 2025 match?

Is Hardik Pandya available for the GT vs MI IPL 2025 match in Ahmedabad?

Hardik Pandya was banned from the CSK vs MI IPL 2025 match due to an overrate offence. According to the rules laid by the board, three offenses in maintaining a slow overrate result in the captain of the side getting banned for the next match. MI completed the tally of slow overrates in three games in their last league stage fixture of IPL 2024. Thus, Pandya had to sit out of the CSK vs MI IPL 2025 game. The rule has been modified ahead of IPL 2025, however, with no bans on the captain for the offense. Hardik Pandya, meanwhile, is fit to claim his leading post in the Mumbai camp ahead of the GT vs MI IPL 2025 fixture.

In his absence, Suryakumar Yadav was appointed as the captain for the CSK vs MI game in Chennai. Meanwhile, the lineup included Robin Minz and Naman Dhir in the Playing XI to tackle the all-rounder's unavailability. Minz couldn't make the opportunity count as the 22-year-old fell at 3 off 9 against Noor Ahmad in the first innings. The batter is now likely to make way for captain Hardik Pandya in the team. Naman Dhir, meanwhile, could continue as an impact sub prospect for MI.

𝕊ℍ𝕆𝕎𝕋𝕀𝕄𝔼 🔜 in Amdavad ⚔🍿 #MumbaiIndians #PlayLikeMumbai #TATAIPL #GTvMI pic.twitter.com/FeioOiLu1a

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) March 29, 2025

Moreover, there is an anticipated shift in the reception of Hardik Pandya in IPL 2025. The MI captain picked up significant slack last season as he left Gujarat Titans and replaced Rohit Sharma as the Mumbai captain. The all-rounder was booed across Indian cities throughout the IPL 2024 league stage. However, Pandya has completed the ultimate redemption arc, playing crucial roles in India's title victories at the T20 World Cup and the ICC Champions Trophy under the leadership of Rohit Sharma. Now, as Pandya gears up to return to the field as the MI captain for another season, the boos are sure to transition into cheers for the all-rounder.

Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians will both be playing their second IPL 2025 game. GT lost their campaign opener against Punjab Kings by 11 runs at home. MI lost theirs to CSK. Now, as they come across each other at the Titans' den, both the five-time champions and the 2022 title winners will be chasing their first victory of the season.