Leading an IPL franchise is a role filled with roaring support, but it also brings intense scrutiny. Captains are judged on the smallest margins—field placements, bowling changes, and batting order tweaks—decisions that can quickly turn a season into a triumph or a disappointment. Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya has been living through that volatility since moving from a key player into the captain’s seat, experiencing both celebrated highs and a difficult, heavily questioned stretch with MI.
From Gujarat glory to MI turbulence
Hardik’s captaincy story began with major success at Gujarat Titans. During his time with the franchise, he guided the team to back-to-back appearances in IPL finals. Gujarat’s debut journey in 2022 ended in a championship title, giving Hardik an immediate reputation as a leader who could deliver under pressure.
That narrative has looked very different since Hardik returned to Mumbai Indians in 2024, taking over from Rohit Sharma, who had built a long, successful leadership legacy with the franchise. Hardik’s first season as MI captain did not match the expectations, as Mumbai finished at the bottom of the table in 2024, managing only four wins.
There was at least a sign of progress in 2025. MI improved enough to qualify for the playoffs, offering hope to their supporters. However, their campaign ended after they were knocked out by Punjab Kings, a side captained by Shreyas Iyer and described as dominant in the match-up.
The pressure intensified again in 2026. Hardik’s personal performances have dropped sharply, and his on-field decision-making has been repeatedly questioned. With rumours growing around possible changes in the captaincy ahead of the next season, the doubts around his leadership have become a constant storyline.
MI results under Hardik and the reshuffled leadership
Under Hardik’s captaincy in 2026, Mumbai Indians won only two of the nine matches he led. The team’s record also highlights how results changed when Hardik was absent due to injury.
- MI won twice in the three matches Hardik missed because of injury.
- Those matches were handled by two different stand-in captains: Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah.
- Bumrah made his captaincy debut with a statement win against PBKS on May 14.
Even with trade talk and captaincy replacement speculation continuing to circulate, the debate over blame and responsibility has remained active among fans and former players.
Ashwin backs Hardik, but points to team issues
Ravichandran Ashwin, a former India teammate of Hardik and now an expert commentator, pushed back against the idea that the captain alone should be held responsible for MI’s struggles this season. Ashwin argued that it is unfair to place the entire weight of a poor year on the skipper.
In his comments, Ashwin stressed that when a team fails collectively, it becomes too simplistic to treat captaincy as the single cause. He also referenced Hardik’s proven leadership success with Gujarat Titans, where he delivered two standout seasons.
- Ashwin said it is “quite unfair” to blame the captain alone during seasons where the team as a whole has not turned up.
- He argued that nobody has truly performed to the required level, and that Hardik taking on blame himself is asking him to do “a little too much.”
- He reminded viewers that Hardik was part of Gujarat Titans’ run to two “fabulous seasons,” implying he did “something right” as a leader there.
Why Ashwin says replacement pressure is uniquely difficult
Ashwin also highlighted how challenging it is for Hardik to replace Rohit Sharma as the Mumbai Indians captain. He pointed to the weight of Rohit’s achievements and the level of fan attention surrounding the franchise.
- Ashwin said it is not easy to replace an established Indian white-ball captain like Rohit Sharma.
- He noted Rohit’s record: five IPL titles and a T20 World Cup win.
- He added that Hardik had to step into a role with heavy fandom pressure, meaning he needed a “thick skin” to handle the intensity of social media.
MI’s bowling concerns take centre stage
Ashwin further argued that beyond the debated captaincy calls, MI’s bowling unit has been a major weakness during the season. He referenced form and impact dips involving Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult, saying wicket-taking has been inconsistent and the bowling has conceded too many runs overall.
- Ashwin claimed MI’s bowling has “leaked” runs in every direction.
- He described a pattern where after overs go for six or seven runs, the opponents then attack further, leading to 15-run overs.
- He suggested that in such circumstances, captaincy becomes reactive to what the team is producing on the field.
- He said captains should not be blamed entirely—because captaincy is shaped by how a team performs, not only by the skipper’s choices.
Ashwin concluded with a clear principle: when the team enjoys a good season, captains should not receive excessive credit, and when the campaign turns bad, the blame should not be pinned solely on them.
What comes next for Hardik and MI
Hardik’s future with the Mumbai Indians remains uncertain, especially with captaincy replacement rumours still hovering. Still, Ashwin’s perspective underlines a key point: Hardik has previously shown match-winning quality for both franchise and country. With support from team management and a shift in momentum—along with renewed confidence—there is still a possibility for Hardik to revive his leadership stint at MI.
