Mumbai Indians all-rounder Shardul Thakur says captain Hardik Pandya is sidelined due to injury, not because of any dispute with the franchise or questions about his future. Thakur clarifies that Pandya missed the last three Mumbai Indians matches because of back spasm. Pandya first sat out the team’s May 4 home game against Lucknow Super Giants and later did not play the match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Raipur, despite travelling with the squad. Thakur also notes that Pandya is training in Mumbai and expects him to return for the next match, which is against Kolkata Knight Riders. The updates come as Pandya also did not travel with the team to Dharamsala for Mumbai’s six-wicket win over Punjab Kings, where Jasprit Bumrah captains the side in that match. With Suryakumar Yadav also absent after the birth of his child, Mumbai played without multiple regulars during this stretch.