NEW DELHI: Players of Mumbai Indians were seen wearing black armbands during their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday, with the franchise confirming the heartfelt reason behind the gesture.
Emotional Tribute on the Field
In an official statement, Mumbai Indians revealed that the armbands were worn following the untimely demise of a support staff member's daughter. The franchise stated, 'Due to the untimely demise of our support staff's daughter, Mumbai Indians players will wear black arm bands today, in remembrance and solidarity with the family,' as quoted by news agency ANI. The moment added an emotional layer to what was otherwise a high-stakes encounter in the IPL 2026, with players uniting in support of one of their own behind the scenes.
Toss Decisions and Team Updates
On the field, MI skipper Hardik Pandya won the toss and opted to bat first, citing favourable conditions. 'Looks like a good, breezy day… I don't think dew will be a factor. We're just gonna bat and see how much we can score,' Hardik said. He also spoke about the team's recent approach: 'It was important to reset, not get too complicated… we've had good sessions and just want to come out and play our best cricket.'
Rohit Sharma Still Sidelined
One of the major talking points remained the absence of Rohit Sharma, who continues to recover. 'Rohit's gonna take a couple of more games… it's not up to where he would want, so not available,' Hardik confirmed, outlining a cautious return timeline. Opener Quinton de Kock also missed out due to a wrist issue, with Ryan Rickelton and Robin Minz coming into the XI.
SRH Captain's Perspective
SRH captain Pat Cummins said he expected a slightly tricky surface. 'There might be a bit of tackiness… just execute skills and don't overthink it,' Cummins noted, adding that adapting quickly would be key.
Playing XIs
Mumbai Indians XI: Ryan Rickelton (w), Will Jacks, Naman Dhir, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Robin Minz, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, AM Ghazanfar, Ashwani Kumar.
Sunrisers Hyderabad XI: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora (w), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pat Cummins (c), Harsh Dubey, Sakib Hussain, Praful Hinge, Eshan Malinga.
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