Mumbai Indians (MI) head coach Mahela Jayawardene provided an update on skipper Hardik Pandya's injury after their IPL 2026 match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Raipur. Pandya has been struggling with a back issue and has not participated in practice sessions, leading to his absence for the second consecutive game. Suryakumar Yadav stepped in as captain, but MI lost the match by two wickets, confirming their elimination from the playoff race. Jayawardene explained that the medical team is monitoring Pandya's condition on a day-to-day basis, emphasizing the importance of not risking his fitness. The coach acknowledged the team's disappointing season, stating that they fell short of consistency and were just a few wins away from playoff contention. MI posted a total of 166/7, but RCB successfully chased it down on the last ball, sealing MI's fate in the tournament.