4 min readUpdated: May 29, 2026 05:16 AM IST
Hardik Pandya‘s reign as Mumbai Indians captain is coming to an end. After a season in which they lost 10 of 14 games, finished ninth, and extended their title drought to six years, MI is set to overhaul its squad — starting with the captaincy.
The Indian Express, speaking to at least three persons in the MI fold, has learnt that Hardik is likely to lose the captaincy. A discussion on his place in the side is also on the cards.
“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,” said a source.
The immediate backdrop is a team talk by the coaching staff following MI’s final game of the season against Rajasthan Royals.
“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,” said a source.
So what is the path forward?
“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?” according to a MI old-timer.
The problem runs deeper than captaincy.
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“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,” said another source.
Mumbai Indians’ captain Hardik Pandya celebrates a wicket during an Indian Premier League cricket match. (AP Photo)
The teams that made the playoffs this year — RR and Sunrisers Hyderabad — redefined T20 batting with top orders consistently going above 10 runs per over. Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans showed the value of experienced bowlers: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj. MI, with arguably the most recognisable names in the competition, looked out of sync with the modern T20 game.
None of their players featured in the race for Orange or Purple Caps. Their best batsman Ryan Rickelton is 17th among the top run-getters. Leg-spinner Allah Ghazanfar is 14th among wicket-takers. For a squad containing proven match-winners at every position, the numbers are difficult to explain.
Hardik’s relationship with the MI terraces has always been complicated. Originally an MI find, he was released by the franchise in 2022, went to Gujarat Titans, won the IPL as captain, and returned to MI in 2024 to replace Rohit Sharma. This happened days after Rohit had led India to the 50-over World Cup final.
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The fans never forgave the optics. They booed him through his first season back, when MI finished at the bottom of the table. A partial recovery in 2025 raised hopes. The 2026 season extinguished them.
The MI players and decision-makers are currently on a break. The hard conversations, sources say, will happen when they regroup in the coming weeks. Whether Hardik leads the side, plays in it, or neither – nothing is settled.
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