Hardik Pandya couldn’t hide his relief as Mumbai Indians finally snapped a four-match losing run in IPL 2026 on Monday. The victory was also their second of the campaign, and with six matches played MI sit seventh in the points table. Coming into the day, they were languishing at the foot of the standings and urgently needed a result to revive their season. But facing Gujarat Titans—who had been riding a three-game winning streak—MI looked like they might slip back into defeat.
In the end, Hardik’s plan finally came together in Ahmedabad, a city that feels like a chapter from his past. With Gujarat Titans, he had captained the side to the title in their debut IPL season, before finishing as runners-up in 2023. Not long after, he moved on from GT and returned to Mumbai Indians, stepping in to replace Rohit Sharma as captain straight away. The switch didn’t sit well with a section of supporters, and the 2024 season turned into a struggle for Hardik and the franchise. MI ended that year at the bottom of the table, managing only four wins and suffering 10 losses. In 2025, the captaincy improved and Mumbai finished fourth, only to be knocked out in the playoffs by Punjab Kings.
Another tough season for Hardik Pandya
This year has again tested Hardik and Mumbai Indians. Still, Monday’s outcome suggests there is something left to work with. Hardik’s captaincy with MI can’t be labelled a complete failure—rather, it’s been that his leadership hasn’t quite clicked in Mumbai in the way it did earlier. At Gujarat, he operated with a fresh structure around him, with defined roles and without a legacy-based hierarchy shaping day-to-day decisions. He also had Ashish Nehra working alongside him as support, allowing the setup to run smoothly. For all the pressure surrounding him, the contrast with GT has been hard to ignore.
Rohit Sharma factor
In Mumbai, Hardik took over from Rohit Sharma, a captain beloved by many fans and also MI’s most decorated skipper. The change didn’t simply alter the game-plan—it reshaped the dressing-room pecking order as well. Reports suggested that the leadership call also didn’t land well with certain senior members, including Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav, both of whom share a close bond with Rohit.
Change in surroundings
At Gujarat, Hardik’s captaincy was marked by calm and composure, and he appeared to thrive inside the role. With MI, that steadiness has been harder to show, partly because the spotlight around the franchise never truly fades. His bowling adjustments have not consistently delivered, and his tactical calls have often fallen short. At GT, he was able to contribute steadily and maintain strong form. With MI, however, he has frequently struggled to find rhythm and has not managed to impact matches consistently with both bat and ball.
Under the spotlight
Fans and pundits have also added to the pressure. Every move Hardik makes becomes a talking point, which keeps him under constant scrutiny even during routine phases of the match. That kind of attention has contributed to a tense atmosphere in the build-up to games. On top of the criticism, recurring injury concerns within MI have made it even more difficult for Hardik to settle the side and execute plans.
Against Gujarat Titans on Monday, though, it looked like Hardik had finally found the right approach. He also sent Jasprit Bumrah into the attack in the very first over. The decision paid off immediately: on the first ball of the opening over, Bumrah removed Sai Sudharsan and the GT opener departed for a golden duck. Hardik then benefited again when he struck for Jos Buttler’s key wicket, with Buttler dismissed for 5.
For their next match, Mumbai Indians will take on arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings on Thursday. Both teams are in comparable positions in the season so far. CSK are placed eighth in the standings with two wins and four defeats.
