Hardik Pandya’s trade to the Mumbai Indians (MI) from Gujarat Titans (GT) was the biggest move the IPL had ever seen at that point of time. After two highly successful years with GT, Pandya returned to the team that unleashed him in front of the world. However, his captaincy reign at MI has been anything but successful.
After another disastrous IPL 2026 season that saw Mumbai Indians win just four of their 14 matches and finish ninth on the points table, the franchise is set for a major overhaul. According to a report by The Indian Express, Mumbai Indians are likely to remove Hardik from the captaincy. There are discussions expected to revolve around his place in the team as well.
It is a massive development that comes just two years after one of the most controversial leadership changes in IPL history, when Hardik replaced five-time title-winning captain Rohit Sharma ahead of the 2024 season. Now, after three disappointing campaigns, MI are preparing for some difficult conversations. They know they are behind the 8-ball in the league and need to rejig.
“There were enough signs during the season that the team management wasn’t keen to retain him as captain. There is a clear buzz in the camp,” a source told The Indian Express.
Mumbai Indians questioning Hardik Pandya’s future
One of the most fascinating developments that has come to the fore is that under Pandya, senior players didn’t follow the coaching staff orders. In an era where the game has been played equally off the field as on it, players should be knowing the value of data and analytics. However, if the reports are true, the MI management didn’t like Pandya’s ignorance on this part.
The coaching staff expressed concerns over whether senior players were fully buying into the team’s plans and data-driven approach. “The coaching staff was very clear in their message to the senior players that wherever they play, they need to be coachable. There were many instances where the coaching staff recommended something which was backed by data but players didn’t follow it,” a source told the aforementioned publication.
Most matches lost in IPL since 2024
| Team | Matches | Won | Lost | W/LRatio | Run Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai Indians | 44 | 17 | 27 | 0.629 | 9.58 |
| Chennai Super Kings | 42 | 17 | 25 | 0.680 | 9.13 |
| Lucknow Super Giants | 42 | 17 | 24 | 0.708 | 9.40 |
| Punjab Kings | 45 | 22 | 21 | 1.047 | 9.97 |
| Rajasthan Royals | 45 | 22 | 21 | 1.047 | 9.71 |
A senior Mumbai Indians insider also revealed that the franchise is set to evaluate every aspect of the team structure, including whether Hardik should continue as captain or even remain in the side as a player.
“There will be serious introspection and discussion in the coming days. Every option would be weighed. Many questions need to be addressed. Going ahead, can Hardik be the captain? Does he stay in the team just as a player?”
That’s the harsh reality that Pandya hasn’t done any magic for MI ever since he returned in 2024. While his performances for India have been superb, playing a key part in two T20 World Cups and an ODI Champions Trophy, Pandya has been just alright for MI.
In three seasons, Pandya didn’t hit a single half-century. You may say that a finisher shouldn’t be judged on the basis of highest scores, but the fact that Pandya’s strike rate of 147.8 ranks 50th among batters with at least 200 balls faced since 2024, says a lot about what has gone wrong.
His bowling has seen him take 29 wickets but has come at an expensive economy rate of 10.5. That is worrisome when you compare that Pandya’s on-field decisions have come with a fair share of criticism as well. Bowling changes haven’t been on point. Under him, MI’s batting order has shuffled multiple times. Tilak Varma’s best entry point is still unkown, while it is also true that senior players have let Pandya down as well.
MI gone backwards under Pandya?
The franchise’s struggles were not limited to results. While teams like Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad embraced ultra-aggressive batting approaches, Mumbai appeared stuck in a different era. Their Powerplay performances lagged behind rivals, and despite boasting some of the biggest names in the league, MI often looked tactically outdated.
Not just this, Pandya himself has often batted at a number higher than where he should bat. Unlike some outrageous finishers in modern T20, Pandya takes a bit of time to settle in. While he can whack the ball from the onset, Pandya, when trying to be consistent, takes some time. As a result, when he gets out before launching after settling in, it looks ugly. In the 10 innings Pandya batted in IPL 2026, he finished with a strike rate of less than 100 as many as four times. That totals 40% of his IPL 2026 campaign.
“We haven’t been able to use the Powerplay like some of the more successful teams this IPL. We haven’t moved with the times,” another source admitted. On paper, Mumbai had one of the best teams in IPL 2026. However, clearly, that doesn’t mean anything if you don’t turn up on the field. Yes, the players let the entire team down. but the captain, who has won five IPL titles in his career, failed to inspire towards anything.
Hardik endured one of the worst seasons of his IPL career. He scored just 146 runs in ten innings at an average of 22.88 and strike rate of 138.25. Before the last MI match, his strike rate was close to 128. With the ball, he managed only four wickets in nine innings while conceding runs at an economy rate of 11.42.
Hardik Pandya’s captaincy record for MI
| Matches | Won | Lost | Win/Loss Ratio | Win % | Loss % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | 15 | 24 | 0.620 | 38.46% | 61.53% |
For now, Mumbai Indians have not made an official announcement. But after two bottom-two finishes in three seasons under Hardik’s leadership and a six-year wait for another IPL title, change appears inevitable. Hardik’s sacking might not be the only hard decision that MI management takes before IPL 2027 kicks on.
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