India all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who captains the Mumbai Indians, has removed his Instagram presence, prompting fresh debate across IPL circles. On Wednesday, searches for his handle returned a “User not found” notice, with no visible posts and an additional message stating, “This profile is private.” The deletion arrived just days after Mumbai ended IPL 2026 in ninth place in the standings.
When his page was checked again shortly after, another notice appeared—“Something went wrong”—adding to the uncertainty online. The timing also kept attention on Hardik’s IPL 2026 campaign, which was followed by heavy scrutiny, along with widespread social media chatter that a change of franchise could be on the horizon.
Earlier, Hardik posted a picture on social media that sparked immediate speculation. The image included a “07:07” time reference on his phone, which many interpreted as a potential nod to a shift back to Chennai Super Kings, the five-time title holders.
Ravichandran Ashwin, a long-time CSK figure, only intensified the rumours. Posting on X, he wrote: “Pathirana, 07:07 & Stokes!”
Hardik’s IPL 2026 numbers and fitness
Hardik’s return in IPL 2026 did not match expectations for Mumbai. He finished the season with 206 runs across 10 matches, while with the ball he took only four wickets. He also missed multiple games because of back spasms.
- Hardik sat out matches due to back spasms during IPL 2026.
- He missed the two fixtures immediately after Mumbai Indians exited the playoff hunt.
- After the loss to the Rajasthan Royals, he shared a fitness update, saying: “Everything is fine. I bat, I bowl, I field, I skip, so it’s okay, it’s fair for me to have a game where I just batted and enjoyed as well.”
From Gujarat Titans to Mumbai Indians
Hardik’s move to the Mumbai dugout has not delivered the desired outcomes for the franchise. Mumbai finished in the bottom half of the table in both seasons where Hardik led—2024 and 2026. In 2025, the team reached Qualifier 2 but were beaten by Shreyas Iyer’s Punjab Kings.
Hardik’s switch came in 2024, when he moved from Gujarat Titans to Mumbai Indians and took over the captaincy role from Rohit Sharma. The transition proved unpopular with sections of the fanbase, and during IPL 2024 he was booed aggressively across venues throughout the competition.
Next assignment: Afghanistan ODIs
Hardik’s next appearance is expected in a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, starting on June 14. However, his participation will depend on his fitness, and he will need to receive clearance from the Centre of Excellence before he can be considered for any match in the series.
