Hardik Pandya is an IPL-winning captain—an accomplishment only a select few in Indian cricket can claim. But his second stint at the Mumbai Indians has brought more turbulence than triumph. After taking over as skipper in his first year, he faced booing from MI supporters for replacing Rohit Sharma.
Quick facts
- Hardik Pandya is an IPL-winning captain and returned to the Mumbai Indians as skipper.
- In his first season with MI, he was booed by fans for replacing Rohit Sharma.
- MI finished in the playoffs in IPL 2025 but did not reach the final.
- In IPL 2026, MI have lost six of eight matches.
- Mpumelelo “Pommie” Mbangwa called for a review of Hardik’s captaincy in a Cricbuzz discussion.
- Simon Doull suggested MI should consider who the captain will be next year, even implying a potential release if changes are made.
- In IPL 2026, Pandya has 128 runs in seven matches at a strike rate of 152.38 and has taken 4 wickets in seven games.
- MI lost by six wickets to Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday despite posting 243 for 5.
- SRH chased the target with eight balls remaining; Jasprit Bumrah conceded 54 in four overs and took no wickets.
- After the defeat, MI are on 4 points from 8 matches, while SRH moved to third with 12 points from 9.
MI’s recent season arc has not offered much comfort. In IPL 2025, the five-time champions reached the playoffs but fell short of a place in the title match. Now, in IPL 2026, their situation looks sharper: they have dropped six of their eight league games, and the race for qualification has become a “must-win” scenario—one that may still not guarantee progression for a Pandya-led side.
Debate over captaincy
During a discussion on Cricbuzz, Mpumelelo “Pommie” Mbangwa argued that Hardik Pandya’s captaincy needs to be reviewed. Former player Simon Doull went further, focusing not just on performance but on clarity for the next season.
Doull’s question was direct: who would be the captain next year if MI were planning to change something? He added that if the decision is not to keep Hardik, the franchise should consider moving him on, framing his concerns around the idea that the captaincy burden may not be translating into improved team output.
When asked whether Pandya could rediscover his form with the additional responsibility of leading the side, Doull said it could go either way. He noted that when fully fit, Hardik has been among the best all-rounders in the game, but stressed the key test: whether he is ready to accept a “backseat” role when needed—concentrating on his impact as a player rather than carrying the entire weight of captaincy.
Stuttering with bat and ball
As a premium all-rounder in white-ball cricket, Pandya’s IPL form in 2026 has not matched his reputation. In seven matches, he has managed 128 runs, striking at 152.38. With the ball, he has picked up four wickets across those same seven games.
Still, Pandya has acknowledged that his bowling options have been stretched. He also pointed to the need to keep finding solutions under pressure, admitting that Mumbai Indians are not living up to the standards expected of them this season.
That admission came after MI suffered a six-wicket loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday. Despite compiling a huge total of 243 for 5, Mumbai Indians were unable to defend it, with SRH chasing down the target with eight balls to spare.
Jasprit Bumrah, MI’s leading pace spearhead, endured a tough outing as well. He conceded 54 runs in his four overs and finished wicketless, adding to the sense that even their strongest resources did not deliver when it mattered.
The defeat left Mumbai Indians at four points from eight matches. Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad climbed to third place in the standings, collecting 12 points from nine games.
Asked how MI plan to respond after failing to protect a formidable score, Pandya said the team needs to identify what adjustments can be made. He also insisted he would not sacrifice his bowlers in blame, but argued that as a unit, MI have not done what the franchise typically stands for.
