Reports have claimed that Hardik Pandya could leave Mumbai Indians after 2026 IPL following a difficult season as captain. According to a PTI report, Pandya was mentally exhausted and frustrated after Mumbai’s poor campaign and informed the management during the season that he may not continue with the franchise.
The report also said the dressing room environment was difficult and that not all senior players were fully aligned after he replaced Rohit Sharma as captain in 2024. Pandya was heavily booed by sections of fans during the last two seasons, which reportedly affected him.
There is still no official confirmation from either Pandya or MI about his exit. It is also unclear whether he would move through a trade or enter the IPL auction if he leaves.
Pandya joined MI again in 2024 after leading Gujarat Titans previously. He remains one of India’s top all-rounders and was part of India’s title-winning squads in recent ICC tournaments.
Hardik Pandya Reportedly Told Mumbai Indians He Wants To Leave After IPL 2026 Struggles
According to reports, Pandya has informed MI that he wants to leave the franchise after IPL 2026 following another disappointing season.
The report claims Pandya was mentally exhausted after Mumbai finished ninth with only four wins in 14 matches. He also struggled with a back spasm during the tournament and reportedly felt frustrated with the atmosphere inside the dressing room.
Sources quoted in the report said some senior players were not fully aligned with him during his captaincy period after he replaced Rohit in 2024. The report also mentioned that Pandya was hurt by what he felt was a lack of commitment from certain senior players despite expectations placed on him during India duty.
Pandya’s second stint with MI has been turbulent. The team finished last in 2024, reached Qualifier 2 in 2025, and then dropped to ninth in 2026. During matches he missed this season, Suryakumar Yadav and Bumrah stepped in as captains.
There is still no official confirmation from either Pandya or MI. The report says he could either seek a trade to another IPL team or enter the auction pool before IPL 2027.
Hardik Pandya Could Lose Both Mumbai Indians Captaincy After IPL 2026 Reports Claim
Reports now suggest that Pandya could not only lose the captaincy of Mumbai Indians. But may also lose his place in the playing XI after 2026 IPL.
MI had another disappointing season under Pandya, winning only four of their 14 matches and finishing ninth. It followed a last-place finish in 2024 and a playoff exit in 2025. Multiple reports claim the MI management is unhappy with the team’s direction and leadership.
According to sources quoted in the report, there were tensions inside the camp regarding decision-making. The coaching staff reportedly wanted senior players to follow data-based plans more strictly, but not everyone agreed with those strategies.
Pandya’s own form also came under criticism. He scored 206 runs in 10 matches at an average of 22.89 and took only four wickets while conceding runs at an economy above 11.
There is still no official announcement from MI. But reports claim serious discussions are expected before IPL 2027 regarding whether Pandya stays as captain, remains only as a player, or leaves the franchise completely.
Possible captaincy candidates being discussed include Bumrah, Rohit and Suryakumar Yadav.
Jasprit Bumrah Emerges as Fan Favourite To Replace Hardik Pandya as MI Captain for IPL 2027
After Pandya reportedly decided to leave MI, discussions around the next captain for IPL 2027 have grown stronger. A TimesofIndia.com poll showed fans clearly backing Bumrah for the role.
More than 44 percent of fans voted for Bumrah as MI’ next captain. He led MI once during IPL 2026 against Punjab Kings when both Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav were unavailable, and MI won that match.
Rohit Sharma finished second in the fan poll with over 27 percent of the votes. Tilak Varma received around 17 percent support, while Suryakumar got just above 10 percent.
Mumbai Indians had a terrible IPL campaign. They won only four of their 14 matches and finished near the bottom of the table. The poor season increased pressure on Pandya, whose captaincy period since returning from Gujarat Titans in 2024 has remained under heavy scrutiny.
Bumrah is now seen by many fans as the safest and most respected option to rebuild the team before MI possibly plans a long-term leadership change in future seasons.
FAQs
Q. Why are reports claiming Hardik Pandya may leave Mumbai Indians?
A. Reports say he was mentally exhausted after 2026 IPL season. And was frustrated with the dressing room environment.
Q. How did Mumbai Indians perform in IPL 2026 under Hardik Pandya?
A. MI won only four matches in 14 games and finished ninth in the table.
Q. What are the reports saying about Hardik Pandya’s future at MI?
A. Reports claim he could leave the franchise completely. He could remain only as a player. Or could lose the captaincy before IPL 2027.
Q. Who is the fan favourite to become Mumbai Indians captain if Pandya leaves?
A. Bumrah is the fan favourite according to reports and polls.
Q. Which other players are being discussed as possible MI captaincy options?
A. Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav are also being discussed as options.
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