New Delhi: Hardik Pandya’s tenure as captain of the Mumbai Indians (MI) appears to be nearing its end as the franchise evaluates a disappointing season that saw them finish ninth in the IPL 2026 points table. Pandya took over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma prior to the 2024 season but has struggled to lead the team into the playoffs in two of the three seasons under his leadership.
According to a report by the Indian Express, three sources within the MI organization have indicated that Pandya may be removed from the captaincy. Additionally, discussions regarding his position within the team are anticipated during the upcoming management review.
“There were clear signs during the season that the team management wasn’t keen to retain him as captain. There is a noticeable buzz within the camp,” a source told the publication.
Furthermore, the report shared that MI’s senior players have been urged to remain “coachable” and set aside personal egos. A source noted, “The coaching staff was very clear in their message to senior players: regardless of where they play, they need to be coachable. There were multiple instances where the coaching staff recommended strategies backed by data, but players did not adhere to them.”
The MI management plans to conduct a “serious introspection” in the coming days. “Every option will be evaluated. Many questions need to be addressed. Moving forward, can Hardik continue as captain? Will he remain in the team solely as a player?” questioned a long-time MI source.
Pandya, who rose through MI ranks after making his IPL debut in 2015, has been pivotal in securing four titles for the franchise. He was released ahead of the 2022 season, later joining the Gujarat Titans, where he led the team to victory during their debut season and to the finals in 2023. Upon returning to MI in 2024, he assumed captaincy from Rohit.
However, Pandya’s results at MI have fallen short of expectations. In his debut season as captain, the team finished last in the standings, drawing boos from frustrated fans. Although MI reached the playoffs in 2025, they were eliminated in Qualifier 2 by the Punjab Kings. The 2026 season has proved challenging, even with a seemingly strong roster; MI managed to win only four matches out of ten, placing them just above the Lucknow Super Giants based on net run rate.
This decline has placed significant pressure on Pandya’s captaincy, with his future at MI under serious review in the forthcoming management meetings.
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