Suryakumar Yadav will step in as Mumbai Indians' captain for their highly anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) opener against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday, as regular skipper Hardik Pandya serves a one-match suspension.

Pandya's suspension stems from Mumbai’s slow over-rate violation in their final league match last season, marking their third offence of the tournament and triggering the automatic penalty.

Addressing the situation, Pandya admitted the circumstances were beyond his control. "We bowled the last over a couple of minutes late. At the time, I wasn’t aware of the consequences," he said during a pre-tournament press conference in Mumbai on Wednesday. "It’s unfortunate, but the rules are rules. I have to go through the process."

Despite Pandya's absence, Mumbai Indians have no shortage of experienced leaders. Their squad features India’s Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma, national T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav, and star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who has captained India in Tests and T20s.

However, Bumrah is set to miss the initial part of the tournament due to a back injury sustained in Australia earlier this year.

Pandya acknowledged the wealth of leadership in the squad. "I’m fortunate to have three captains alongside me—each with experience leading India in different formats. Their collective knowledge is invaluable," he said.

As two of the most successful franchises in IPL history, both Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings have won five titles each, making their opening clash a high-stakes battle.

Head coach Mahela Jayawardene emphasized that Mumbai Indians had strengthened their squad with experienced players to push for a record-breaking sixth title. "Winning an IPL trophy is never easy, but Mumbai has a history of delivering," said the former Sri Lankan captain.

"We have seven players in our squad who have won IPL titles with different teams. My goal as a coach is to build the right structure, maximize their potential, and introduce fresh elements to give us a competitive edge." With an elite leadership group and a well-rounded squad, Mumbai Indians are set to launch their IPL 2024 campaign with high expectations and a title-winning mindset.