Mumbai Indians, once the benchmark of consistency, are now stumbling badly—almost like a house of cards collapsing under pressure. Yes, they did manage a win over Lucknow Super Giants, but beating a side that has been struggling hardly changes the bigger picture. The five-time champions are widely seen as needing a major reset, yet there is unlikely to be any immediate shake-up at the captaincy level. Reports suggest that despite a disappointing 2026 IPL campaign so far, Hardik Pandya is expected to retain the leadership role, with no short-term risk to his position.
The same report also highlights that the franchise has not lost confidence in Hardik’s captaincy. His MI tenure began in IPL 2024, when he was brought in from Gujarat Titans to take over from Rohit Sharma. However, after three seasons, the results have not offered the desired turnaround. Mumbai Indians, last crowned champions in 2020, have now gone five years without lifting the IPL trophy and appear on course for a sixth consecutive title drought. In that span, they have made the playoffs only twice—finishing in qualifying positions in 2023 and 2025. They have also ended at the bottom of the points table on two occasions, in 2022 and 2024.
Even so, Hardik’s role is expected to continue because the management believes the issues run deeper than leadership alone. The focus has shifted toward performance gaps within the squad. For starters, three of MI’s key players—Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik himself—have not delivered to the standards expected from them.
Jasprit Bumrah, while still among the more economical bowlers in the tournament, has struggled to convert spells into breakthroughs. In 10 matches, he has taken only three wickets. His wicket drought finally came to an end against Gujarat Titans, but even after that, he has not managed to take more than one wicket in a single match.
The Surya letdown
Suryakumar Yadav’s form has also been a major concern. After a standout previous season where he amassed 717 runs, he was expected to build on that momentum following India’s triumph in the T20 World Cup. Instead, his output has dropped sharply. In the same number of matches as Bumrah, he has scored just 195 runs, including only one half-century.
Hardik’s own all-round numbers have likewise fallen short of expectations. He has contributed 146 runs and taken four wickets so far, though his impact as a captain and his overall value with the bat and ball are seen as reasons he remains protected. He has also missed two matches—against Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants.
Mumbai Indians have additionally had to cope with the near-absence of Rohit Sharma for almost a month. He started the season well, scoring 78 against Kolkata Knight Riders and 35 against Delhi Capitals, but a hamstring injury disrupted MI’s early batting rhythm and key combinations. With no settled, dependable partner for Ryan Rickelton at the top, the franchise found it difficult to build momentum, and rival teams began to move ahead.
Rohit’s return, however, brought some relief. When he teamed up with Rickelton, they added 143 runs for the opening wicket, and both players posted half-centuries. That partnership offered a glimpse of what MI could look like when their batting order clicks.
While Mumbai Indians are not technically eliminated from playoff contention yet, the margin for error has become extremely small. With only six points from 10 matches, their path is narrowing quickly. Their immediate priority is straightforward: win every remaining game and hope enough teams around them slip up, allowing MI to end the season in a position that keeps the playoff dream alive.
