Hardik Pandya set to be axed as Mumbai Indians' captain following shambolic IPL 2026

Hardik Pandya is set to lose the Mumbai Indians captaincy after a dismal season in IPL 2026 for the player and the team.

The five-time champions had a poor run in IPL 2026, finishing ninth on the table with just four victories in 14 games. They finished tied on points with the Lucknow Super Giants but did not finish at the bottom of the table due to a superior net run rate. The all-rounder has also had a lacklustre season from a personal standpoint, scoring just 206 runs at a strike rate of 138.26 and picking up just four wickets at an economy of 11.43.

As reported by the Indian Express, the 32-year-old is not going to be continued as the captain any further by the MI management, with deliberations on his place in the side also being prominent. 

“There were enough signs during the season that the team management wasn’t keen to retain him as captain. There is a clear buzz in the camp,” a source in the report was quoted as saying. 

The 2026 season was Hardik’s third as the skipper of the Mumbai Indians, after his polarising return to the franchise in 2024, which saw him take over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma. What followed was a dismal last-placed finish in 2024, followed by a playoff run in 2025, where they were beaten in Qualifier 2 by the Punjab Kings.

“There will be serious introspection and discussion in the coming days. Every option would be weighed. Many questions need to be addressed. Going ahead, can Hardik be the captain? Does he stay in the team just as a player?” a franchise insider said according to the same report.

A source reported that the team talk after MI’s 30-run loss to the Rajasthan Royals saw the coaching staff deliver strict messaging to the senior players regarding their conduct and demeanour in the season. MI conceded a total of 205 despite picking up regular wickets and failed to chase it down due to a failure in the powerplay, where they lost four wickets.

“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,” another source stated.

The powerplay was a significant issue for the five-time champions in the 2026 edition of the marquee T20 tournament. With the bat, they have struck at just 148.61 in the first six overs, the third-lowest in the league. A consistent loss of wickets in the powerplay has been a recurring theme this season. MI have lost 27 wickets in the powerplay, the joint-second most in the league.

“We haven’t been able to use the Powerplay like some of the more successful teams this IPL. We haven’t moved with the times,” said another source.

As further reported, the team management and decision-makers are currently on a break, following which they will regroup, and decisions related to the season and future planning will be made.