Mumbai Indians are officially out of IPL 2026, and the spotlight is once again firmly on captain Hardik Pandya. The franchise’s disappointing campaign has triggered fresh criticism over both leadership and team decisions.
Hardik Pandya has been leading Mumbai Indians since 2024. However, the results during this phase have largely failed to meet expectations. The team has struggled to maintain consistency, and repeated setbacks have only increased the pressure on the captain.
From the beginning, a section of Mumbai Indians fans reacted negatively to the captaincy change. Every defeat since then has intensified the criticism surrounding Hardik Pandya.
One major reason behind the frustration is the comparison with Mumbai Indians’ golden era. Fans still expect the franchise to dominate the tournament like it did during its most successful years.
As a result, several team failures are now directly linked to the captain. Following the team’s elimination from IPL 2026, criticism against Hardik has become even stronger.
At the same time, comparisons with Krunal Pandya are becoming more noticeable. Krunal was once an important part of Mumbai Indians’ successful core group before the franchise released him.
After leaving Mumbai Indians, Krunal Pandya played for Lucknow Super Giants and later joined Royal Challengers Bengaluru. At RCB, he appears to have found a more stable role with clearly defined responsibilities.
This has created an interesting contrast in IPL 2026. While Hardik Pandya is facing pressure, criticism and elimination as captain, Krunal Pandya is quietly delivering steady performances in a simpler role.
That is why one question is again gaining attention among fans. Did Mumbai Indians bring back the wrong Pandya?
