Mumbai Indians all-rounder Corbin Bosch believes the absence of regular captain Hardik Pandya has been a major factor in a difficult season for the five-time IPL champions, as the franchise has repeatedly struggled to turn key phases of matches in its favour. MI’s campaign was effectively ended when they were officially ruled out of the IPL 2026 playoff contention after a narrow loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Raipur on Sunday—a match in which Hardik did not feature due to a back spasm.
Hardik Pandya’s absence and MI’s playoff exit
Bosch said the team has felt the impact of losing Pandya both in the dressing-room and on the field, but insisted Mumbai still needs to keep pushing forward despite the setback. The RCB fixture was the third league-stage game this season that Hardik has missed, following an away match against Delhi Capitals and a home encounter versus Lucknow Super Giants.
- MI were eliminated from the IPL 2026 playoff race after losing to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Raipur on Sunday.
- Hardik Pandya missed the RCB match because of a back spasm.
- The loss to RCB came after Hardik also sat out league games versus Delhi Capitals (away) and Lucknow Super Giants (home).
Bosch on leadership, pressure and moving ahead
Speaking ahead of Mumbai Indians’ upcoming encounter against Punjab Kings, Bosch acknowledged that the captain’s absence has made things harder for the side. He described Pandya as more than just a leader, adding that MI have missed his influence during on-field moments.
“It’s obviously been tough. Hardik is not only a leader but a fantastic cricketer as well. We’ve missed his presence when it comes to the on-field stuff,” Bosch told reporters before the MI-Punjab Kings game.
Bosch also pointed to the broader effort being made around Pandya’s situation, and stressed that the team must continue playing T20 cricket regardless. “I’m sure the people that are making decisions and the people that are looking after him are trying to do the best for him and for the team itself. It has been tricky, but at the same time the game does move forward and we still need to play cricket,” he added.
Suryakumar Yadav likely to captain again
With Hardik unavailable, India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav has taken charge of Mumbai Indians in all three matches so far during Pandya’s absence. Bosch suggested the same leadership setup could be in place again when MI face Punjab Kings on Thursday.
- Suryakumar Yadav has captained MI in all three matches during Hardik Pandya’s absence.
- He is set to lead the side again when Mumbai take on Punjab Kings on Thursday.
Why MI have struggled: incomplete performances and missed key moments
MI currently sit second from bottom in the 10-team points table, and Bosch believes the biggest issue has been an inability to consistently produce a full all-round showing. He explained that across different games, either the bowling has managed to deliver while the batting faltered, or vice versa—leaving Mumbai without the complete package needed to win consistently.
“We just have not put together a complete game. One day it’s been the bowlers who would do well and the batters struggle a little bit or the (next day) the batters do well and the bowlers struggle,” Bosch said. “The key moments in the game which this team is known for winning, we just haven’t done that this year.”
He further suggested that crucial opportunities—especially at decisive stages—have not been taken, swinging games the other way. “Maybe dropping crucial chances at crucial stages of the game that have swung the game in the opposite direction. It’s a multitude of things but at the same time going into each game, we make sure that we leave no stone unturned,” Bosch added.
- MI are second from bottom in the 10-team points standings.
- Bosch cited inconsistent all-round outputs as the core problem.
- He pointed to missed “key moments” that Mumbai are usually known for converting into wins.
- He also referenced dropping crucial chances at pivotal stages as a factor in narrow defeats.
