Mumbai Indians captain Suryakumar Yadav distributes sweets to media ahead of IPL 2026 fixture
Suryakumar Yadav leads Mumbai Indians in vice-captain Hardik Pandya's absence while franchise medical staff assess fitness protocols
Mumbai Indians captain Suryakumar Yadav distributed sweets to media personnel and paparazzi at the Mumbai airport on 10 May 2026. The gesture followed the birth of his daughter, Devisha Shetty, on 7 May, and occurred ahead of the team's match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur.
While handing out sweet boxes to camerapersons and photographers, Yadav stated, "Yeh lo, aap log khaana yeh," which translates to "Have this, you guys please eat it." The interaction highlighted a moment of personal celebration within the broader context of the team's campaign, drawing immediate attention on social media platforms.
Yadav is set to lead the Mumbai Indians in the absence of vice-captain Hardik Pandya, whose availability for the Sunday match remains pending medical clearance due to back spasms. Although Pandya travelled with the squad to Raipur, the franchise's medical team, comprising head of sports medicine Ben Langley and physiotherapist Nitin Patel, is monitoring his condition to determine fitness for the fixture.
The five-time champions are currently placed ninth in the league table with three wins from ten matches. Following the Raipur fixture, the team will travel to Dharamsala for a match against Punjab Kings on 14 May, then proceed to Eden Gardens to face Kolkata Knight Riders on 20 May.
The league stage campaign will conclude at Wankhede Stadium with a day game against Rajasthan Royals on 24 May. Yadav, who captained India to the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup title, has scored 195 runs from 10 matches in the IPL 2026 season.
