Hardik parting ways with MI is reportedly only a matter of time.
Hardik Pandya parting ways with Mumbai Indians (MI) is reportedly only a matter of time, following a disastrous IPL 2026 campaign, where the franchise finished ninth on the 10-team points table with just 4 wins from 14 matches.
The all-rounder, 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 points table in 2024. Though the team reached the playoffs in 2025, further struggles in 2026 put Hardik under severe scrutiny.
Amid the debacle, a report published in TOI suggests that the atmosphere inside the team dressing room hasn't been the same since Hardik's return.
"Differences exist in almost every dressing room, but the division and bitterness at Mumbai Indians have been unusually high since Hardik returned. It doesn't take an expert to see what's happening, but for a franchise like Mumbai Indians, which has always valued its core group, the constant leaks are a major concern. It's a strong word, but it's the reality. That dressing room has seen legends, captaincy transitions, and more, but it has never been like this," the report quoted an official as saying.
The report added that the management plans to crack down hard on confidential dressing room leaks, preventing internal matters from going public.
"These things don't sit well with the management. A lot of public drama unfolded after some players posted emojis on social media, and it hasn't stopped since. Whether it's the visible divide in the dressing room, body language on the field, or the way they play, the issues are obvious. If players think they can take MI for a ride, they need to rethink that. The priorities clearly aren't right. Players are taking too long to return to action, and everyone just seems to be marking attendance," the report stated.
On a personal front, Hardik Pandya endured a below-par IPL 2026 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.