IPL 2026: Hardik Pandya to be sacked from MI captain?

Mumbai Indians' struggles continue in IPL 2026. The team has managed to win only two of its first eight matches and stands on the brink of elimination from the tournament. While the team's performance has certainly improved from match to match, their fortunes have yet to turn around. The team's key batsmen are struggling with their form, while their renowned bowlers have so far failed to contain opposition batters. Now, the blame for these defeats is, to some extent, falling upon Captain Hardik Pandya. He is the man who—just before the IPL 2024 Auction in late 2023—was brought back from the Gujarat Titans via an all-cash deal with the sole intention that he might replicate his success there and turn around the Mumbai Indians' fortunes as well. He was even entrusted with the team's command—a move that involved replacing MI's all-time greatest captain, Rohit Sharma, who had previously led the franchise to five titles.

The Mumbai Indians have been waiting for their sixth title since 2020. After failing to secure a championship under Rohit's captaincy during the 2021, 2022, and 2023 seasons, the management handed over the team's reins to Hardik; however, the MI management's gamble has now backfired on them. Following his appointment as captain in place of Rohit, Hardik faced intense trolling—not only from his critics but even from his own fans. Yet, after the Indian national team went on to win the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy, fan perception regarding him underwent a significant shift.

Last year, when MI reached Qualifier 2, every fan believed that the team would surely secure its sixth title; however, Shreyas Iyer & Co. shattered MI's dream. And this year, once again, the MI squad is struggling badly. Now, critics are demanding that he be removed from the captaincy and the leadership reins be handed back to Rohit Sharma, while some reports suggest that Tilak Varma could emerge as the team's new captain.

Former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull also believes that the MI franchise must now make a major decision regarding Hardik Pandya's captaincy. MI cannot contemplate heading into the next 2–3 seasons with Hardik in this current situation. The time has come to relieve him of this role. While MI may face difficulties in finding a new captain after removing him from the leadership position, this decision is ultimately in the best interest of the team.

“My point would be: who is your captain next year? If they are going to change something, who is going to be the captain next year? If it is not going to be Hardik Pandya, release him. Only because I don't know how he will perform in an environment where he has underperformed, his team has underperformed for three years, and then his job goes,” Doull said.

"It might free him up, it might not. It might make him feel, 'I have failed.' It could go either way. When fully fit, Hardik has been one of the best all-rounders in the game. My only point is, if he is going to be the captain, is he willing to take the backseat, put in the hard yards, and just be Hardik-the great player-yet again?" 

The Mumbai Indians will face their arch-rivals, Chennai Super Kings, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on May 2 in their next cricket match. They will have to win every remaining match of the season; otherwise, they will be out of playoffs contention.