Hardik Pandya to lose Mumbai captaincy, team spot in jeopardy:Dents in MI camp as coaching staff calls seniors ‘uncoachable’ post season exit

After a drastic IPL 2026 season and elimination, Hardik Pandya’s days as captain of one of the most successful franchises of the league will be coming to an end. It has been learned, as per media reports, that MI management is set to do a team overhaul, analysing each aspect that can or cannot align with their expectations moving ahead. However, this raw response from the MI circle was already expected, considering Mumbai lost 10 of their 14 games this season, finishing 9th on the points table. The five-time IPL champions haven’t won an IPL title in the last six years. What’s surprising, as per the Indian Express report, is that Hardik is not the only problem that the Mumbai Indians are facing. Senior players’ attitude, lack of powerplay utilisation, and sync with the modern T20 format are some of the concerns that MI management will be addressing in the upcoming days. Hardik Pandya’s spot as player is in doubt, certain to lose MI captaincy Even though it is almost certain, as per the same report, that Hardik Pandya will lose his captaincy, his spot as a player in the Mumbai Indians is also in jeopardy. As per the sources in the MI camp, there will be discussions in the future about how the all-rounder can contribute to the team as a player and how he fits after the overhaul. Despite the poor run, it doesn’t mean management will fire Hardik right away after the end of the season. As per MI camp insiders, there will be discussions and introspection around his place in the team and presence as captain. However, the Mumbai Indians need those tough conversations because Hardik is not the only problem for them anymore. Senior players in MI have been ‘uncoachable’ this season Apart from Hardik Pandya’s trouble, it is also learned that the coaching staff have been uncoachable in IPL 2026. That’s why the coaching staff has very clearly stated to the senior players that they need to be coachable and work on the recommendations that coaches suggest after analysing their game. Concerns to address for the Mumbai Indians after IPL 2026 In addition to captaincy and senior players’ attitude concerns, the MI camp admitted that the team has not been able to use the Powerplay like some of the more successful teams. The team feels that MI players have been able to move up with the modern T20 cricket template. The teams that made the playoffs this year, like RR and Sunrisers Hyderabad, continued to go above 10 runs per over. Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans utilised veterans like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Kagiso Rabada, and Mohammed Siraj to their full potential. On the other hand, none of Mumbai’s players featured in the race for Orange or Purple Caps. Their best batsman, Ryan Rickelton, is 17th among the top run-getters. Leg-spinner Allah Ghazanfar is 14th among wicket-takers, which should not be the standard for a team of MI’s calibre. In the upcoming weeks, MI’s decision makers will decide Hardik Pandya’s fate, whose relationship with the Mumbai fanbase is a bit scratchy since he rejoined the team in 2023 and replaced Rohit Sharma as captain. Fans first booed him through his first season back, when MI finished at the bottom of the table. He gave some hope in the 2025 season, but now the MI paltan is back to its old way after a horrifying run this season.