{"id":6257,"date":"2026-04-29T12:21:52","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T12:21:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1win.za.com\/ipl\/mi-struggle-under-hardik-as-leadership-shake-up-rumours-spark-debate"},"modified":"2026-04-29T12:21:52","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T12:21:52","slug":"mi-struggle-under-hardik-as-leadership-shake-up-rumours-spark-debate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/1win.za.com\/ipl\/mi-struggle-under-hardik-as-leadership-shake-up-rumours-spark-debate","title":{"rendered":"MI Struggle Under Hardik as Leadership Shake-Up Rumours Spark Debate"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mumbai Indians have long been viewed as one of the IPL\u2019s most decorated franchises, having won five titles and sharing the record for most championships with arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings. Yet despite their history of resilience and their knack for pulling off memorable recoveries in tight moments, the side has found it hard to build momentum this season under Hardik Pandya\u2019s captaincy.<\/p>\n

Pandya took over the leadership role from Mumbai\u2019s long-time icon Rohit Sharma ahead of the 2024 campaign. The switch came after Pandya\u2019s successful, title-winning spell with Gujarat Titans in 2022. Mumbai secured him from GT in an all-cash transaction worth INR 15 crore, hoping the move would revive their fortunes. But so far, the decision to bring back their former star all-rounder\u2014who had previously featured for the franchise from 2015 to 2021 and returned as captain\u2014has not delivered the expected impact.<\/p>\n

In his first year at the helm, Mumbai Indians finished at the bottom of the points table, managing only four victories. There was renewed optimism for supporters in 2025 when the team returned to the qualification places, only to fall short in the race to the next stage against the Shreyas Iyer-led Punjab Kings.<\/p>\n

Concerns mount around Pandya\u2019s impact<\/h2>\n

Former India batter Subramaniam Badrinath has publicly questioned Pandya\u2019s role in the franchise, arguing that both his performances as a player and his leadership as captain have been below the standard expected from a team of Mumbai\u2019s stature. His comments came after a disappointing start to the 2026 campaign.<\/p>\n

Badrinath said the management would not be pleased with the current scenario and suggested that the possibility of a leadership adjustment may already be in the minds of those running the team. He also pointed to the way Pandya\u2019s batting struggles are beginning to affect his captaincy decision-making.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Badrinath said Pandya\u2019s poor batting form is bleeding into his leadership, with confidence at the crease appearing to influence the captain\u2019s on-field calls.<\/li>\n
  2. He added that the management would \u201cdefinitely not be happy\u201d and that sudden changes during the season could be possible.<\/li>\n
  3. He specifically suggested that any captaincy shake-up might already have crossed the minds of the franchise leadership.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Badrinath\u2019s criticism carries added weight because Pandya\u2019s numbers since taking the captaincy have been under pressure. Apart from his responsibilities as skipper, he has produced just 97 runs across six innings. He has also failed to close out chases on three separate occasions\u2014an area where a captain is often expected to set the tone during the most demanding phases of matches.<\/p>\n

    With a reputation for delivering in crunch moments, Pandya\u2019s recent struggles have raised questions about whether the weight of captaincy is affecting his batting output. In addition, his influence with the ball has not looked like the impact Mumbai would normally hope for from their captain.<\/p>\n

    Bowling has been another concern. Pandya has managed only three wickets so far, with an average around 63 and an economy rate nearing 13, figures that underline how difficult it has been for him to lead the bowling attack effectively.<\/p>\n

    While Mumbai\u2019s squad includes several experienced options and many players are in their prime years\u2014along with the presence of 39-year-old Rohit Sharma\u2014Badrinath believes the franchise has still not found its rhythm. He noted that Mumbai are currently positioned in the bottom half of the table, sitting ninth after seven matches.<\/p>\n

    In Badrinath\u2019s view, the reasons for the team\u2019s struggles trace back to multiple issues: Pandya\u2019s on-field decision-making, the failure to get the best out of world-class pacers such as Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult, and ultimately, his own limitations in the current phase of the tournament.<\/p>\n

    \u201cThey had so many match-winners, which makes their position on the table stunning. And all of them are at the peak of their careers, except maybe Rohit Sharma. That\u2019s why Hardik\u2019s captaincy needs to be questioned. His bowling changes, field positions, and personal form being poor are major factors,\u201d Badrinath concluded.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Mumbai Indians have long been viewed as one of the IPL\u2019s most decorated franchises, having won five titles and sharing the record for most championships…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":6256,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"IPL 2024: MI Under Hardik Pandya Amid Leadership Shake-Up","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"IPL 2024: MI\u2019s tough run under Hardik Pandya sparks leadership shake-up rumours\u2014fans debate what it means for Mumbai\u2019s title hopes.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6257","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\nIPL 2024: MI Under Hardik Pandya Amid Leadership Shake-Up<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"IPL 2024: MI\u2019s tough run under Hardik Pandya sparks leadership shake-up rumours\u2014fans debate what it means for 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