MI managed only four wins in their 14 league matches to finish ninth during the IPL 2026 season.
Under Pandya, who replaced Rohit Sharma as the MI skipper ahead of the 2024 edition, the five-time champions managed only four wins in their 14 league matches to finish ninth on the 10-team points table.
On a personal front, the all-rounder had a below-par season. In 10 matches, he scored 206 runs at an average of 22.89 and a strike rate of 138.25. It was one of the lowest-scoring seasons of his career, with a top score of just 40. His impact with the ball was severely limited as he managed to pick up just 4 wickets during the tournament.
Hardik also had to sit out a few crucial games in the latter half of the season, notably dealing with recurring back spasms.
Consequently, speculation became rife regarding Pandya’s future as MI captain. The rumour escalated after he deactivated his Instagram account a few days after the team’s elimination.
According to the report, the Mumbai Indians management has decided to sack Hardik Pandya as the captain.
“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 told the publication.
The report also indicates that the coaching staff held an end-of-season briefing, instructing senior cricketers to remain "coachable" after multiple instances where Pandya and other players strayed from data-driven team recommendations.
“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,” said a source.
A former MI player suggested that the franchise management will be weighing all options, including whether to retain Pandya as a player.
"There will be serious introspection and discussion in the coming days. Every option will 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?" an MI old-timer said, as per the report.
Hardik Pandya, who led Gujarat Titans to the IPL title in 2022, returned to his old franchise as skipper ahead of the 2024 season. However, he was booed at MI's home ground, the Wankhede Stadium, primarily because he replaced the legendary and beloved captain, Rohit Sharma.
The booing intensified as MI struggled on the field, finishing at the very bottom of the 10-team points table for the 2024 season. Though the team reached the playoffs in 2025, further struggles in 2026 has led to calls for his removal from the MI captaincy.