For Hardik Pandya, IPL 2026 is beginning to unravel at an alarming pace as Mumbai Indians continue to flounder. With four defeats in their first five games, the five-time champions already find themselves staring at a season slipping away far too quickly, and their skipper has looked increasingly out of sorts in the middle of it all.
The strain is beginning to show. Beyond the losses on the field, there’s a sense that the pressure has crept into Hardik’s mindset—his body language betraying frustration, his composure wearing thin. It has been a campaign where things just haven’t clicked, and the toll is visible.
Following MI’s seven-wicket defeat to Punjab Kings, Hardik did not hold back, pointing to a lack of application from his batters, with remarks that seemed to be aimed at players like Tilak Varma. With the season threatening to spiral further, the question lingers—would a step back from captaincy offer Hardik the breathing space he needs to reset and return with clarity?
‘BRING BACK ROHIT SHARMA’
Former India batter Manoj Tiwary believes it is high time Mumbai Indians bring back Rohit Sharma as captain to restore stability. Rohit led MI to five titles, but was removed as captain in 2023, with Hardik Pandya taking over the role. Tiwary said that Hardik has not lived up to expectations and that Rohit should be reinstated, adding that his removal as captain was unjustified in the first place.
“If they want a solution for this, then Hardik Pandya should take a break from captaincy, and Rohit Sharma should be brought back in, and given that responsibility. When Rohit Sharma was removed as captain, it was an injustice. The expectation was that Hardik Pandya would deliver a trophy, but the way things are going, it does not seem that he will be able to do that,” Tiwary said on Cricbuzz.
While Hardik has struggled as captain, he hasn’t been at his best on the personal front either. In four games, he has taken only two wickets, conceding at an economy rate of 11.16, which is on the higher side. With the bat, he has managed just 81 runs at an average of 27. From no angle has Hardik looked like his usual self, with the pressure clearly beginning to show.
BUMRAH NOT HAPPY WITH HARDIK?
As if Hardik’s struggles with leadership and on-field performances weren’t enough, his rapport with teammates has also come under the spotlight. Following the match against PBKS, a video went viral showing Jasprit Bumrah visibly unhappy with the skipper.
At a crucial juncture in the game, Hardik opted to set the field according to his own plan, a decision that didn’t align with Bumrah’s thinking. The two were seen exchanging words, with Bumrah initially appearing unconvinced, before eventually going along with the call, though his disappointment was evident.
Although the current situation looks grim for Hardik and Mumbai Indians, all is not lost by any means. The franchise has often been a slow starter. In IPL 2014, they began their campaign with five consecutive defeats but still managed to reach the playoffs. A year later, in 2015, they started with four losses before turning things around to win the title.
That history offers plenty of inspiration if MI are to script a comeback. Going by past trends, both Mumbai and Hardik will believe they can bounce back when they face Gujarat Titans on April 20 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
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