Mumbai: Hardik Pandya is facing increasing scrutiny after Mumbai Indians endured a disappointing start to the Indian Premier League 2026 season, with former cricketer Manoj Tiwary calling for a leadership rethink and even suggesting a return of captaincy to Rohit Sharma.
Mumbai Indians have managed just one win in their first five matches and currently sit second from the bottom of the points table. Their latest setback came at home against Punjab Kings, where they were comfortably beaten in a match that highlighted both batting and bowling inconsistencies. The team’s only victory so far this season came against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium.
Speaking on Cricbuzz, Manoj Tiwary criticised Hardik Pandya’s leadership, arguing that the issues go beyond the current season. He pointed to Mumbai Indians’ dominant era under Rohit Sharma, during which the franchise secured five IPL titles between 2013 and 2023, and questioned the decision to alter leadership.
Tiwary suggested that removing Rohit Sharma from captaincy was a mistake, saying the move amounted to “injustice” given the team’s previous success. He added that the lack of trophies in recent seasons further reflects a leadership gap that needs addressing.
“I think the captaincy is weak. I don’t want to be harsh, but Hardik is not leading the team the way it should be,” Tiwary said, urging a reassessment of the leadership structure. He went on to suggest that Hardik Pandya should step aside from captaincy and allow Rohit Sharma to resume the role.
Beyond leadership concerns, Tiwary also criticised tactical decisions made during the loss to Punjab Kings. He questioned Hardik’s decision to promote himself in the batting order ahead of Sherfane Rutherford, as well as bowling strategies involving Deepak Chahar and Jasprit Bumrah.
According to Tiwary, these choices reflected poor match awareness and impacted Mumbai Indians’ ability to build momentum during crucial phases of the game.
As criticism mounts, Mumbai Indians will be under pressure to regroup quickly and revive their campaign before the season slips further out of reach, with questions over strategy and leadership continuing to dominate discussions.
