Suryakumar Yadav's action reveals his MI future [Source: AFP, @Crex_live]
Mumbai Indians players were once known as a big family, with each player having each other’s back. However, in the last three seasons, things have turned sour, and the fans no longer recognise their beloved franchise.
It all started when Rohit Sharma was abruptly removed as the team captain, and Hardik Pandya replaced him ahead of the IPL 2024 season. The Mumbai Indians camp was divided into two halves, with the senior players siding with Rohit, and one of them was the explosive batter, Suryakumar Yadav.
The Hardik Pandya captaincy decision that changed MI's fortunes
In IPL 2023, MI reached the playoffs with a depleted bowling attack, and everyone expected Rohit to continue as the team captain. However, the franchise acquired Hardik in a trade deal, and the management also made him the team captain.
Reportedly, this decision didn’t sit well with the senior players, who wanted Rohit to lead the team. The likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Tilak Varma reportedly supported Rohit, while Hardik was sidelined.
Under Hardik, MI’s performances dipped as they failed to reach the playoffs in IPL 2024, and 2026, and Hardik was reportedly blamed for the team's downfall. Speculation arose that senior players expected the captaincy if Rohit was removed, and Hardik’s abrupt appointment drew negative reviews.
It was also stated that Suryakumar, who was unhappy with Hardik was planning to leave the franchise, but his latest action tells a different story.
Suryakumar Yadav removes MI from Insta bio, adds it later
Interestingly, on June 8, the former India T20I captain removed MI from his Instagram bio, sparking speculation on social media about a move to another franchise. Rumours began to circulate that Surya might be traded to another IPL side ahead of IPL 2027, as he was unhappy with the MI team management.
However, almost 20 days later, on June 27, SKY took a U-turn as he once again added MI to his bio, sparking another rumour that he might be staying with the Mumbai Indians for the next IPL campaign.
Also Read: "Missing Saviour Of Upsets": Fans Rue Suryakumar Yadav's Snub After Ireland Disaster
It was speculated that in between the two posts, the player might have held a conversation with the MI team management, and they might have convinced Surya to stay for another season.
KKR reportedly set its sights on Suryakumar Yadav
Recently, a RevSportz report stated that teams from North and East are keen on acquiring Suryakumar Yadav’s services for the next IPL season, and MI could be tempted to give away SKY in a trade deal.
"Franchises from the North and East are reportedly eager to acquire his services, with both willing to sweeten the deal by offering him the captaincy," the RevSportz report read.
Before joining the Mumbai Indians, Suryakumar played for the Knight Riders and was a key member of the squad before MI came calling, and the Indian star joined them.
Suryakumar Yadav's poor IPL 2026 season at a glance
The 35-year-old had an exceptional IPL 2025 season for MI, as he accumulated 717 runs in just 16 matches, and was one of the main reasons why the franchise reached the playoffs. However, he failed to replicate the same performance in the recently concluded season.
SKY played 13 matches in IPL 2026, and scored just 270 runs, with an average of 20 and a strike rate of 147.54. He was in poor form throughout the campaign, and it affected the Mumbai Indians' batting lineup.
As a result of his rough patch, the BCCI even took a harsh call and removed him from the T20I side, as Shreyas Iyer replaced him as the India captain.
Also Read: England Legends Bash Jay Shah’s ICC For India Favour, Reminded Of England’s Groupings






