Hardik Pandya has sparked fresh speculation about his future with Mumbai Indians after fans noticed that the all-rounder had apparently unfollowed the franchise on Instagram following MI’s exit from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 playoffs. The activity quickly went viral on social media, with many linking it to growing rumors of a fallout surrounding Mumbai’s difficult season.
The speculation started shortly after MI’s defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 10 in Raipur officially knocked them out of the playoffs. For a short time after the game, Hardik’s Instagram profile reportedly showed 150 followed accounts, with Mumbai Indians missing from that list.
IPL, RCB vs MI: HIGHLIGHTS | SCORECARD
But just a few minutes later, fans noticed that the number had changed back to 151, with Mumbai Indians once again among the accounts, followed by Pandya.
This brief activity on social media was enough to get the internet buzzing.
The situation has gained even more attention as Hardik’s return to Mumbai Indians and his appointment as captain ahead of IPL 2024 has already divided sections of the MI fan base. Since then, every difficult phase involving a franchise or a captain has been thoroughly scrutinized online.
HARDIK PANDYA REALLY UNFOLLOWED ME?
Technically, it appeared on Instagram for a short period of time.
Several social media users shared screenshots showing Mumbai Indians missing from Hardik’s following list immediately after MI’s defeat against RCB.
However, within minutes, the MI account reappeared on his profile, leading many to question whether it was an accidental unfollow, a technical glitch or a genuine moment of frustration after the loss.
Neither Hardik Pandya nor the Mumbai Indians have officially commented on the situation.
As a result, the whole episode currently remains more of a social media speculation than a confirmed rift between the player and the franchise.
Still, due to the history surrounding Hardik’s appointment in charge and Mumbai’s struggles in the last two seasons, the incident naturally garnered huge attention online.
WHY ARE MI-HARDIK FALLOUT RUMORS GROWING?
Much of it comes from how difficult IPL 2026 has been for both Hardik and Mumbai Indians.
MI were officially knocked out of the play-off race after their defeat to RCB and continued a disappointing campaign where consistency never came.
Hardik himself also endured a tough season statistically.
In eight appearances this year, the all-rounder managed just 146 runs and picked up four wickets. His season was further marred by injuries, with the MI captain missing a total of three matches due to fitness issues linked to back spasms.
He missed Mumbai’s clash against Lucknow Super Giants and then stayed out again unavailable against RCB after not being medically cleared.
With Hardik out, Suryakumar Yadav became the captain of the team following the birth of his daughter earlier this week.
Despite the disappointing campaign, reports earlier this week suggested that the Mumbai Indians management continued to support Hardik’s leadership. According to these reports, the franchise sees MI’s issues as part of a larger issue involving adapting to the evolving T20 format rather than purely a captaincy issue.
But after yet another early exit from the playoffs and his latest Instagram activity, the buzz surrounding Hardik’s future at Mumbai Indians has only intensified once again.
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Player Stats | Purple Cap | Orange Cap | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
– The end
Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
11 May 2026 01:06 IST
