Pressure is tightening around Hardik Pandya as Mumbai Indians sink deeper into a troubling slide, with the franchise losing four matches in a row. For Pandya, the strain is showing in more than one way—both in the way he leads and in how he produces as a batter and bowler. The team’s search for momentum has not taken off, and the clock is starting to feel loud.
MI’s last IPL triumph came in 2020, and since that title run, the road to a sixth crown has looked increasingly long. In a bid to change the tone of the campaign, the franchise made a major call by moving on from Rohit Sharma as captain and handing the leadership reins to Pandya immediately. The decision placed a heavy spotlight on him from day one.
Yet stepping into the shoes of a skipper who has won multiple titles was always going to be a steep learning curve. Early-season results have not eased the burden, and with four consecutive defeats already on the record, Mumbai Indians risk falling behind the pack too quickly. That leaves Pandya facing a clear challenge: turn the narrative around before it becomes much harder to recover.
Quick scan: concerns raised
- Mumbai Indians have lost four matches back-to-back, adding to pressure on Hardik Pandya.
- MI’s most recent IPL success is in 2020, and the next title remains elusive.
- Rohit Sharma was replaced as captain, with Pandya named skipper immediately.
- Irfan Pathan questioned Pandya’s batting returns since 2024 and his powerplay impact with the ball.
- Pathan also criticised MI’s bowling wicket-taking ability, pointing to a lack of bowlers producing breakthroughs.
- Jasprit Bumrah has not taken a wicket this season, according to Pathan.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan delivered a direct reading of what has been going wrong, focusing on both batting output and bowling impact. He underlined that the batting returns since 2024 have been below expectation, suggesting Pandya has to lift his standard rather than ride the reputation of past seasons. Pathan also flagged the visible pressure around Pandya’s decisions and execution in key phases of matches.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Pathan said the central issue is handling pressure more effectively. He noted that Pandya’s batting average since 2024 has been in the early-20s and stressed that fans and team expectations demand more. Pathan added that Pandya also needs to improve his bowling contribution during the powerplay, when matches often swing through early wickets and tight overs.
Pathan pointed out that the situation looked easier in one particular match because Allah Ghazanfar picked up wickets. Even so, he argued that Pandya appears to be “very worried” when the game tightens, implying that mental control is affecting on-field performances. In a tournament where small moments decide outcomes, that type of dip can be costly.
Bowling worries and wicket-taking gap
Pathan broadened the critique to Mumbai Indians’ bowling unit, saying it has struggled to produce wickets consistently. He singled out the performances of Hardik Pandya, Shardul Thakur, and Deepak Chahar, describing them as not meeting the required level. With the attack failing to deliver breakthroughs regularly, the burden shifts onto the few who can strike with the ball.
He also highlighted the growing pressure on Jasprit Bumrah, stating that Bumrah has yet to take a wicket this season. Pathan’s point was that when one of the core strike bowlers is not getting wickets, the entire bowling plan becomes harder to execute. In his view, the team needs more reliable wicket-taking options across overs rather than depending on isolated bursts.
Pathan explained his concern in a simple breakdown: out of the five bowlers, Shardul Thakur and Hardik Pandya are classified as all-rounders, while Deepak Chahar has not been taking wickets. That leaves Mumbai with just two bowlers capable of delivering regular breakthroughs, which he argued makes it extremely difficult to win matches in a league format. For Pathan, Mumbai Indians must improve the bowling unit and ensure they have a more consistent “proper wicket-taker” profile.
