For Hardik Pandya, IPL 2026 is starting to unravel at an alarming rate as Mumbai Indians continue to falter. With four defeats in their first five games, the five-time champions are already finding the season is slipping by too quickly, with their captain looking increasingly out of sorts amid it all.
The tension is starting to show. Apart from the on-field losses, there is a sense that pressure has crept into Hardik’s mindset – his body language betraying frustration, his composure faltering. It’s been a campaign where things just haven’t clicked and the toll is showing.
After MI’s seven-wicket defeat to Punjab Kings, Hardik didn’t hold back, pointing out the lack of application from his testswith remarks that seemed to be aimed at players like Tilak Varma. With the season threatening to spiral further, the question remains – would a step back from captaincy give Hardik the breathing space he needs to reset and come back with clarity?
“BRING BACK ROHIT SHARMA”
Former India batsman Manoj Tiwary believes it is high time Mumbai Indians bring back Rohit Sharma as captain to restore stability. Rohit led MI to five titles but was dropped as captain in 2023 and Hardik Pandya took over the role. Tiwary said that Hardik had not lived up to expectations and that Rohit should be reinstated, adding that his removal as captain was unjustified in the first place.
“If they want a solution for this, then Hardik Pandya should take a break from captaincy and Rohit Sharma should be brought back and with that responsibility in mind. It was an injustice when Rohit Sharma was removed as captain. Hardik Pandya was expected to deliver the trophy but as things stand, he doesn’t seem to be able to,” Cbuzzric Tiwary said.
Although Hardik struggled as a captain, he was not at his best on the personal front either. He has taken only two wickets in four games and has conceded at an economy rate of 11.16, which is on the higher side. He managed just 81 runs with the bat at an average of 27. Hardik didn’t look his usual self from any angle, the pressure started showing clearly.
BUMRAH UNHAPPY WITH HARDIK?
As if Hardik’s management struggles and on-field performances weren’t enough, his relationship with his teammates has also come under the spotlight. After the match against PBKS, the video went viral shows Jasprit Bumrah visibly unhappy with the skipper.
At a crucial moment of the game, Hardik decided to set the field according to his own plan, a decision that did not go along with Bumrah’s mindset. The two were seen exchanging words, with Bumrah looking unconvinced at first before finally agreeing to call, though his disappointment was evident.
Although the current situation looks grim for Hardik and Mumbai Indians, all is not lost. The franchise was often off to a slow start. In IPL 2014, they started their campaign with five consecutive defeats but still managed to make it to the playoffs. A year later, in 2015, they started with four losses before turning things around to win the title.
This history offers plenty of inspiration if MI is to plan a comeback. Both Mumbai and Hardik will be banking on past trends when they take on Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on April 20 that they can bounce back.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
18 April 2026, 6:00 AM IST
