Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya’s alleged social-media move has ignited a fresh wave of criticism after the five-time champions were knocked out of IPL 2026 contention early. In the days following MI’s defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Sunday, online chatter suggested Hardik unfollowed the franchise on Instagram, only to follow them again shortly afterwards. While no definitive evidence has been presented, the debate has escalated quickly, with supporters and observers accusing the captain of airing grievances in public.
Quick facts
- MI’s early exit from IPL 2026 has heightened attention around Hardik Pandya’s behaviour online.
- Reports claimed Hardik unfollowed MI on Instagram after the loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Sunday.
- It was further alleged that he followed MI again after the unfollowing.
- There is no confirmed proof of the social-media change, but the backlash has been loud.
- Hardik missed MI’s last three matches due to an injury.
- MI are no longer in the running for a playoff spot.
Hardik has not featured in MI’s most recent three games because of an injury, with the side already out of playoff contention. Even so, the conversation has not centered solely on his absence; it has turned into a wider argument about how the captain has handled frustration in the public domain. Fans have taken aim at him for what they view as an unnecessary display of displeasure after the defeat to RCB.
Former England captains Michael Vaughan and Alastair Cook weighed in on the controversy during the latest episode of the “Stick To Cricket” podcast. Both former players described the reported Instagram episode as outright disrespect toward the franchise, framing it as a needless escalation at a time when the team’s campaign is already faltering.
Cook said the situation felt like a major “diss” in today’s world, pointing to the reported unfollowing as the kind of public slight that rarely lands well. Vaughan echoed that sentiment, calling it a “low blow” in response to the circulating claims.
Vaughan also questioned the tone of the narrative around Hardik’s injury, while acknowledging that the injury itself may be genuine. He argued that regardless of the medical issue, MI’s result against RCB—where they lost off the last ball—would still be the real sticking point. In his view, the timing and the messaging around it amounted to the ultimate disrespect.
Looking beyond the immediate controversy, Vaughan reflected on Hardik’s return to Mumbai after a trade involving Gujarat Titans. He suggested that this season could end up remembered as one of the bleakest IPL campaigns for a team with such a strong roster. Vaughan said Gujarat won the title during Hardik’s time there, but once Mumbai acquired him, the side’s performance has been extremely poor.
Vaughan went further, stating that, given MI’s squad and group of players, it may represent the worst showing by a team in any competition. He highlighted the depth of the talent available to MI, pointing specifically to Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah—players he believes should have produced a far stronger season.
Former England cricketers David Lloyd and Phil Tufnell also joined the criticism, targeting both Hardik and MI after another disappointing stretch in the tournament. Their comments add weight to the growing pressure around the franchise as IPL 2026 moves further away from MI’s early ambitions.
