Questions over captaincy, team dynamics and management relations have shadowed the captain
The 2026 IPL season has been very difficult for Mumbai Indians. Hardik Pandya, once seen as the team’s future leader, has found himself in the middle of rumours about his relationship with senior players and the team management. Mumbai Indians are near the bottom of the points table and already out of the playoffs. Hardik’s own performance has been poor, with few runs and wickets.
Owners, Management unhappy
There are also stories about disagreements with the team owners. Rumours suggest the team’s management wasn’t pleased with Hardik’s girlfriend accompanying him everywhere. This was reportedly one of the reasons why BCCI came up with a new rule of not allowing girlfriends and wives to be with the players during the matches.
Captaincy confusion
Hardik was made captain in 2024, replacing Rohit Sharma, which upset many fans. This season, he missed matches due to back spasms and Suryakumar Yadav stepped in as captain. While the official reason was his fitness, the media quickly linked this to possible tension with senior teammates.
Rift with senior players
Reports and social media posts suggest that Hardik’s relationship with Rohit Sharma and other senior players is not smooth. Some say the dressing room atmosphere has been tense since the captaincy change. Although no one has spoken publicly about a fight, the buzz continues because of the team’s poor results and Hardik’s absence from key matches.
Not just cricket..
Rumours suggest the team’s management wasn’t pleased with Hardik’s girlfriend accompanying him everywhere. Some say the dressing room atmosphere has been tense since the captaincy change!
