Why did Hardik not keep Suryakumar Yadav in the playing-11?

IPL 2026: Match between Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders

New Delhi: In the second match of IPL 2026 Mumbai Indians faced with Kolkata Knight Riders It is happening since. Mumbai’s selection policy in this match surprised everyone, because the team’s T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav Did not get a place in the playing eleven. He has been named in the Impact Subs list, while former captain Rohit Sharma Was successful in maintaining his place.

toss and bowling decision

After winning the toss, the Mumbai Indians captain hardik pandya Decided to bowl first. However, when the playing eleven was announced, fans were surprised to see that Suryakumar Yadav’s name was not included. He will be used as an impact player while chasing the target.

Opportunity for new faces

Mumbai Indians have given opportunity to some new players in this match. AM Ghazanfar got the opportunity to debut as a spinner for Afghanistan, while Shardul Thakur And Sherfane Rutherford Will also play in his first match. as wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton Has been given priority, and as the fourth foreign player trent bolt Has been included in the team.

Suryakumar Yadav used as impact subs

The strategy behind keeping Suryakumar Yadav as an impact sub is clear. This will enable better management of his workload and he will be able to play with freshness at the time of batting. Additionally, this will also give the team an additional bowling option, which can prove beneficial during the match.

Captain’s reaction on pitch condition

During the toss, Hardik Pandya said that the pitch looked a little greener than usual and his team had prepared well for the match. Whereas, the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders Ajinkya Rahane also expressed surprise about the amount of grass on the pitch.

record of mumbai indians

According to statistics, Mumbai Indians have a strong record against Kolkata Knight Riders. Out of 35 matches between the two teams, Mumbai has won 24 matches. However, KKR has performed better in recent matches, making this match even more interesting.