The Mumbai Indians camp is breathing a sigh of relief as captain Hardik Pandya is set to return for their crucial encounter against Rajasthan Royals. After missing the previous match against Delhi Capitals due to illness, Hardik spent two rigorous hours in the nets on Sunday. Bowling coach Paras Mhambrey confirmed that the skipper is “fit, healthy, and ready to lead” for Tuesday’s showdown at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati.

Hardik’s return is expected to fix the balance of the ‘Paltan’ bowling attack, which looked lackluster in the last game without the likes of Trent Boult. Meanwhile, the Rajasthan Royals, led by the in-form Riyan Parag, are eyeing their third consecutive win. All eyes will be on the duel between the 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi and the yorker king Jasprit Bumrah.

With rain and thunderstorms forecast for Tuesday afternoon, the moisture on the pitch could provide a massive advantage to pacers like Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger. In these challenging conditions, the bowlers might hold the key to victory for both sides. Mumbai is desperate to get back to winning ways, while the Pink Brigade aims to maintain their flawless streak.