4 min learnUp to date: Might 29, 2026 08:10 AM IST
Hardik Pandya‘s reign as Mumbai Indians captain is coming to an finish. After a season during which they misplaced 10 of 14 video games, completed ninth, and prolonged their title drought to 6 years, MI is ready to overtake its squad — beginning with the captaincy.
The Indian Specific, talking to not less than three individuals within the MI fold, has learnt that Hardik is prone to lose the captaincy. A dialogue on his place within the aspect can also be on the playing cards.
“There have been sufficient indicators through the season that the crew administration wasn’t eager to retain him as captain. There’s a clear buzz within the camp,” stated a supply.
The rapid backdrop is a crew speak by the teaching workers following MI’s closing sport of the season towards Rajasthan Royals.
“The teaching workers was very clear of their message to the senior gamers that wherever they play, they have to be coachable. There have been many cases the place the teaching workers really helpful one thing which was backed by knowledge however gamers didn’t observe it,” stated a supply.
So what’s the path ahead?
“There might be severe introspection and dialogue within the coming days. Each choice could be weighed. Many questions have to be addressed. Going forward, can Hardik be the captain? Does he keep within the crew simply as a participant?” based on a MI old-timer.
The issue runs deeper than captaincy.
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“We haven’t been in a position to make use of the Powerplay like a few of the extra profitable groups this IPL. We haven’t moved with the instances,” stated one other supply.
Mumbai Indians’ captain Hardik Pandya celebrates a wicket throughout an Indian Premier League cricket match. (AP Photograph)
The groups that made the playoffs this 12 months — RR and Sunrisers Hyderabad — redefined T20 batting with high orders constantly going above 10 runs per over. Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans confirmed the worth of skilled bowlers: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj. MI, with arguably probably the most recognisable names within the competitors, appeared out of sync with the fashionable T20 sport.
None of their gamers featured within the race for Orange or Purple Caps. Their finest batsman Ryan Rickelton is seventeenth among the many high run-getters. Leg-spinner Allah Ghazanfar is 14th amongst wicket-takers. For a squad containing confirmed match-winners at each place, the numbers are tough to clarify.
Hardik’s relationship with the MI terraces has at all times been difficult. Initially an MI discover, he was launched by the franchise in 2022, went to Gujarat Titans, gained the IPL as captain, and returned to MI in 2024 to interchange Rohit Sharma. This occurred days after Rohit had led India to the 50-over World Cup closing.
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The followers by no means forgave the optics. They booed him by his first season again, when MI completed on the backside of the desk. A partial restoration in 2025 raised hopes. The 2026 season extinguished them.
The MI gamers and decision-makers are at present on a break. The exhausting conversations, sources say, will occur after they regroup within the coming weeks. Whether or not Hardik leads the aspect, performs in it, or neither – nothing is settled.
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