SKY Rohit Bumrah Hardik Pandya Mahieka Sharma. Image Credits: AFP/X
The Mumbai Indians had a rough campaign in IPL 2026, winning only four out of the fourteen group-stage matches they played. MI, the five-time IPL-winning team, ended ninth on the points table. These harrowing losses have now raised questions about Hardik Pandya's captaincy more than ever.
During Pandya's reign, MI have suffered miserably and have seen some of their worst form. However, a recent report has also suggested that not only Hardik Pandya, but senior players like Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah, are also in the bad books of the MI management due to their 'uncoachable' nature.
The Clash Of Egos In The Mumbai Indians Team
Mumbai Indians is one of those teams that comprises almost a major chunk of senior Indian veterans who have played for and made India proud multiple times at the national level. This always brings up a classic clash of 'alpha leaders', which was previously managed by Rohit Sharma.
Nevertheless, due to some internal tussles during the IPL 2024 season, Rohit Sharma was shockingly sacked as skipper and the reins were handed to Hardik Pandya, who was brought in via a high-profile trade from the Gujarat Titans.
Now, with Pandya's inclusion and under his leadership, the MI dressing room has become a 'room full of alphas'. With Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Bumrah in the lineup, Hardik now finds himself in the unenviable position of trying to lead players who have more captaincy experience and very different locker-room dynamics.
This might have been one of the reasons why MI have struggled to find consistent success since 2024 and have witnessed heated on-field spats between Hardik and other senior players. Nevertheless, the MI management have also found it tough to control senior players who carry their own authority on and off the field.
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MI Insider Hints At 'Tough To Manage' Senior Players
As per an exclusive report from The Indian Express, an MI insider confirmed that during a team talk by the coaching staff after the Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals game, many senior players, although approving of the coaches' and coaching staff's decisions off the field, did not follow them on the field despite the data-backed 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 which was backed by data but players didn’t follow it,” said a source.
While Hardik Pandya's captaincy will remain one of the primary points of discussion for the MI management, the 'coachability' of senior players is now also under scrutiny.
The Worrisome Downfall Of Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians have always been a side that either topped the table or remained dominant during the league stages. Looking at earlier records, even in 2015, MI won 10 out of 16 matches.
In 2017, out of the 17 matches including the playoffs, MI managed to win 11 games. In 2019, MI won 10 out of the 16 games they played. In the 2021 edition too, MI managed to win the majority of their matches, winning 11 out of 16 games played.
Since 2024, under Pandya's leadership, MI won only 4 matches out of 14 in his very first season. The next season saw 9 wins from 16 matches, but the harrowing series of losses and defeats continued, with Mumbai failing to live up to the legacy they had built.
Individual Performances Also Impacted
In fact, this has also impacted the individual performances of players, with none of them currently in the race for the Orange or Purple Cap. MI's best batter, Ryan Rickelton, is only 17th among the top run-getters.
Meanwhile, MI's best spinner, Allah Ghazanfar, is 14th among the wicket-takers. While on paper the team boasts some of the most formidable players in world cricket, including several World Cup winners, MI's performances on the ground have fallen flat, and there should be quick action taken to identify the reasons behind the downfall.
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