Hardik Pandya’s Captaincy Under Fire as MI Lose Three Straight in IPL 2026; Ex-India Batter Calls Him “Mediocre Captain”
Hardik Pandya is facing mounting scrutiny after a difficult start to the IPL 2026 season as captain of Mumbai Indians, with the five-time champions managing just one win in their first four matches and suffering three consecutive defeats.
The latest setback came against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where Mumbai Indians once again faltered despite moments of individual brilliance. The poor run has sparked debate over whether captaincy decisions, rather than form alone, are behind MI’s struggles this season.
Former India batter Sadagoppan Ramesh launched a scathing critique of Hardik’s leadership, claiming that tactical errors have significantly hurt the team’s performance. He went as far as calling Hardik a “mediocre captain” while praising him as a top-tier player.
Ramesh highlighted specific decisions from the match against RCB, particularly the use of ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah in the powerplay. He argued that using Bumrah for two early overs disrupted Mumbai’s control in the middle and death overs, leaving the team exposed later in the innings.
He also questioned the decision to deploy spin in both ends during a crucial phase of the game at the Wankhede Stadium, suggesting it played into the strengths of RCB captain Rajat Patidar, who has a strong record against spin bowling.
According to Ramesh, these tactical choices reflected confusion in leadership. He further pointed to a moment involving a review decision, stating that even senior players like Suryakumar Yadav appeared surprised by Hardik’s call on the field.
Ramesh also claimed that there were visible instances where Rohit Sharma seemed to disagree with certain on-field decisions, adding fuel to speculation about internal differences in leadership approach within the MI camp.
Despite the criticism, Ramesh acknowledged Mumbai Indians still have time to recover in the tournament. He added that if the team corrects its tactical issues, they remain strong contenders for a top-four finish and even the title.
However, with three consecutive defeats already on the board, pressure is rapidly building on Hardik Pandya to turn things around and silence questions surrounding his captaincy as the season progresses.
