Hardik Pandya’s position at Mumbai Indians appears to be under serious scrutiny after a rough IPL 2026 campaign, with the franchise finishing ninth in the standings and the skipper enduring a tough personal run. With rumours now swirling around a possible switch to Chennai Super Kings, a cryptic detail from a recent Instagram story has only intensified the speculation.
Key takeaways
- Mumbai Indians ended IPL 2026 in ninth place on the points table.
- In IPL 2026, Hardik Pandya managed 146 runs across 8 innings and picked up just 3 wickets.
- Hardik’s Instagram story featured a phone time reading “07:07”, which fans rapidly linked to MS Dhoni.
- R Ashwin, responding to fan queries about Matheesha Pathirana, hinted at targets for the next season and mentioned “07:07” along with Ben Stokes.
- Hardik had returned to Mumbai Indians ahead of IPL 2024 after an all-cash trade from Gujarat Titans.
Hardik’s Instagram story and the “07:07” buzz
Rumours of a potential exit gained momentum after Hardik’s Instagram story circulated among supporters. In the image, there was a laptop with a film playing, a notebook and pen, and his mobile phone. What stood out most was the time shown on the phone screen: “07:07”.
Within minutes, fans connected that display to MS Dhoni, turning the small detail into a talking point across social media.
Ashwin drops clues on squad-building, Pathirana and “07:07”
The speculation then received another boost when R Ashwin reacted to a fan post asking whether Chennai Super Kings should re-sign pacer Matheesha Pathirana if Kolkata Knight Riders were to release him. The former India spinner offered a cryptic message, suggesting which players franchises should look at to strengthen their squad for the next season.
While Ashwin appeared to back keeping Pathirana, he also floated the name of England Test captain Ben Stokes and introduced a “mystery” reference to “07:07”. Supporters quickly interpreted the coded cue as being tied to Hardik, pointing back to the all-rounder’s recent Instagram story.
Alongside the chatter online, a post circulating the same theme read: “Pathirana, 07:07 & Stokes!” along with additional shorthand about roles and balance—further feeding the idea that the “07:07” clue was intentional.
Hardik’s MI return and a mixed captaincy record
Hardik had rejoined Mumbai Indians ahead of IPL 2024 following an all-cash trade from Gujarat Titans, the franchise he had captained to the title in 2022. However, since his return to MI, the team has struggled to consistently reach the playoffs—failing to qualify in two of his three seasons as captain. The most recent IPL 2026 campaign ended in a disappointing ninth-place finish, adding weight to the growing questions about his future at the franchise.
