Mumbai Indians might soon see a change at the top, with Hardik Pandya likely stepping down as captain after another rough IPL run, in the latest cricket news. Just four wins out of fourteen games left them stuck in ninth spot on the ladder. That follows a bottom-place finish in 2024, which was already seen as a setback when he took charge after moving from the Gujarat Titans. Even though they made the playoffs last season, expectations were higher for a team with such a strong past.

Behind the scenes, there's growing concern among both officials and supporters about the direction under his watch. Word got out early in the season that Pandya might not stay captain.

A source mentioned "a noticeable shift in mood" around the team. People inside say changes are expected before next year begins. The Indian Express cited several accounts pointing toward an official move away from his captaincy soon.

Questions over Hardik Pandya’s place in the team

Worries about Pandya aren’t just about leading the team. People close to the franchise say the Mumbai Indians might not keep him in the lineup at all. That could push the high-profile player toward another team down the road.
“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 Pandya be the captain? Does he stay in the team just as a player?” a Mumbai Indians old-timer was quoted as saying.

One of the biggest frustrations within the camp reportedly stemmed from the players’ unwillingness to fully follow the coaching staff’s data-driven plans. “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 that was backed by data, but players didn’t follow it,” a source revealed.

Even early on, the Mumbai Indians faltered during the Powerplay overs across IPL 2026. Unlike teams such as Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Rajasthan Royals, and Sunrisers Hyderabad, sides that attacked hard in those opening six frames, MI stayed stuck. While others shifted gears fast, they just didn’t keep up. The pace of modern T20 passed them by.

Also Read: 5 biggest flops of the IPL 2026 ft. Hardik Pandya

“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.

Back in 2024, when Hardik Pandya came back to the Mumbai Indians, things turned messy right away because Rohit Sharma lost the captaincy. Quite a few supporters were convinced he’d pushed for the change, which made crowds shout against him loudly each time he stepped on the field that year.

Later that year, feelings shifted when Hardik Pandya helped India win the T20 World Cup. Still, the IPL season in 2026 brought fresh struggles for the all-rounder. Hesitation crept into his game, showing up in moments where quick choices were needed. His own results did little to quiet doubts about his form.

Pacing through 10 games this term, Pandya piled up 206 runs, averaging 22.89, with a strike rate sitting near 138. Not quite matching pace off the pitch, though, his bowling brought only four wickets across roughly 23 overs, leaking runs at 11.43 per over.