In the IPL 2026 match scheduled for Thursday in Dharamsala, Jasprit Bumrah will step in as captain for the Mumbai Indians (MI) due to the absence of regular captain Hardik Pandya, who is suffering from a back spasm, and vice-captain Suryakumar Yadav, who is unavailable after the birth of his daughter. MI, already out of the playoff race, aims to salvage pride against the Punjab Kings (PBKS), who are struggling after a strong start to the season. PBKS, led by Shreyas Iyer, has lost four consecutive matches, causing a significant drop in their standings from first to fourth place. The team is eager to end this losing streak, especially with their bowling performance being a major concern, having conceded over 200 runs in three of their last four games. Adding to the tension, Dharamsala faces a rain threat, with a 47% chance of rain predicted just before the toss, although conditions are expected to improve later in the evening.