Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya is facing more than just the pressure of chasing results in the IPL 2026. After a difficult start to the campaign, the captaincy spotlight has intensified, with critics pointing to tactical missteps that they believe are costing MI valuable games. In the opening stretch of the season, the franchise have suffered three consecutive defeats across their first four matches, leaving supporters and former players questioning both the on-field planning and decision-making.
Hardik’s captaincy under fire
- Former India batter Sadagoppan Ramesh said Hardik’s captaincy choices have been a major factor behind MI’s poor run, going as far as calling him a “mediocre captain” despite his ability as a player.
- Ramesh argued that the biggest concern from Hardik’s leadership came in MI’s most recent outing against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where he identified multiple questionable calls.
Speaking in detail, Ramesh challenged Hardik’s decision to use Jasprit Bumrah—MI’s most economical bowler—during the powerplay. He highlighted that even though other bowlers were being hit, the captain’s desperation should not have come at the cost of keeping Bumrah out of the most crucial overs.
Ramesh pointed out that Bumrah delivered his second powerplay over in the sixth over of the innings, then did not return until the 17th over. In his view, that meant MI’s best strike bowler was not operating for a prolonged middle stretch of the chase or the innings—effectively removing a key weapon for roughly 60 balls.
He also criticised Hardik for a bowling matchup decision involving spin. Ramesh questioned the logic of bringing a spinner against RCB captain Rajat Patidar, arguing that Patidar not only holds strong numbers versus spinners but has also previously punished Mayank Markande in IPL matchups.
Further, Ramesh suggested that MI’s approach to spin in the seventh and eighth overs was particularly damaging. He said bowling spin from both ends in that phase is a serious tactical error, and that the plan also handed Markande an opportunity to bowl into a batter he believes is already well equipped to punish spin—turning Patidar, in his words, into a “beast” against that style of bowling.
Ramesh then added that Hardik’s field decisions appeared inconsistent even in the middle of the action. He cited an incident where Hardik bowled a high full toss to Tim David and immediately took a review. Ramesh claimed that even Suryakumar Yadav appeared surprised by the captain’s choice to go upstairs, and that Hardik’s attempt to reverse the decision came too late once it had already been sent for review.
Ramesh also asserted that Rohit Sharma disagreed with several of Hardik’s calls during the match, suggesting the captaincy communication and judgment on the field were not aligned across the group.
Wrapping up his criticism, Ramesh said that even if MI had managed to win, the captaincy mistakes would still have been too evident to ignore. In his view, the only way MI can realistically finish in the top four—and go on to win the title—is by correcting these kinds of errors quickly.
