Hardik Pandya [Source: AFP]Speculation regarding Hardik Pandya and Mumbai Indians has once again taken over social media following the team’s disappointing IPL 2026 campaign. The rumours intensified after Mumbai Indians were officially knocked out of the playoff race following their dramatic last-ball defeat against RCB in Raipur on Sunday, May 10.Mumbai Indians Knocked Out Of IPL 2026Notably, MI became the second team after LSG to be eliminated from playoff contention this season. Considering the franchise entered the tournament as one of the favourites, the campaign turned out to be a massive setback for the five-time IPL champions.Moreover, MI struggled consistently throughout the season, losing eight of their 11 matches. As a result, criticism surrounding the team’s overall performance and leadership continued to increase after every defeat.Hardik Pandya’s Instagram Activity Sparks BuzzSoon after Mumbai Indians’ elimination, social media users began discussing Hardik Pandya’s Instagram activity. According to Dainik Jagran sports journalist Abhishek Tripathi, the MI captain briefly unfollowed the franchise on Instagram on Sunday night.Adding to the discussion, some users also claimed that collaborative Instagram posts involving Hardik and MI had disappeared. Therefore, the brief social media activity quickly became a major talking point online.Also Read: Mumbai Indians Share Worrying Hardik Pandya Injury Update Ahead Of MI vs RCB IPL ClashMumbai Indians Reappear On Hardik Pandya’s Following ListHowever, the situation changed within minutes. Fans soon noticed that Hardik’s following count had returned to 151, while Mumbai Indians once again appeared among the accounts followed by the cricketer.Because of this, many believe the alleged unfollow may have been accidental or temporary rather than a sign of a serious disagreement. Importantly, neither Hardik Pandya nor Mumbai Indians have officially commented on the matter so far. Therefore, the entire controversy currently remains unverified social media speculation instead of a confirmed rift between the franchise and its captain.Abhishek Tripathi / अभिषेक त्रिपाठी @abhishereporter हार्दिक ने मुंबई को पहले अनफॉलो किया फिर फॉलो किया.... Hardik’s Captaincy Continues To Face AttentionNevertheless, the rumours attracted huge attention because Hardik’s return to Mumbai Indians before IPL 2024 had already divided the fanbase. His appointment as captain ahead of Rohit Sharma created intense debate among supporters, and since then every setback involving the franchise has been heavily analysed online.Additionally, Hardik also experienced a difficult season personally. Across eight matches, the all-rounder managed only 146 runs and claimed four wickets. It is important to note that Injuries further disrupted his campaign, as he missed multiple games due to fitness concerns.Meanwhile, he remained unavailable for Mumbai’s clash against Lucknow Super Giants and later missed the important game against RCB after failing to receive medical clearance. Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav stepped in to lead the side during Hardik’s absence.MI Continue To Support HardikDespite another disappointing season, recent reports suggested that MI management still backs Hardik Pandya’s leadership. According to those reports, the franchise believes its struggles are part of a larger challenge involving adaptation to the evolving T20 format rather than purely a captaincy issue.However, following another early playoff exit and the latest Instagram activity, discussions regarding Hardik Pandya’s future at MI have once again become a major topic among fans online.Also Read: Mumbai Indians Issue Official Statement On IPL Elimination After Defeat Vs RCB
