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Hardik Pandya continues to face intense criticism as Mumbai Indians slump further in IPL 2026, suffering their seventh defeat of the season after losing to Chennai Super Kings.
As captain, Hardik has been at the receiving end throughout the campaign. However, former India batter Manoj Tiwary believes it is unfair to blame him alone, pointing out the lack of support from teammates.
Speaking on Cricbuzz, Tiwary said Mumbai’s campaign is virtually over and expressed sympathy for Hardik. “It feels like no one is standing with Hardik.
The support he needs simply isn’t there,” he said, adding that while the captain has a role, the rest of the team must also take responsibility.
Tiwary criticised the inconsistency within the squad, noting that players like Suryakumar Yadav have failed to deliver consistently, while younger talents have struggled to maintain form.
“With this kind of inconsistency, results won’t come,” he remarked.
Despite boasting a star-studded lineup, including names like Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah, Mumbai Indians have looked out of sync, lacking clear strategy and failing to adapt under pressure.
Former spinner Murali Kartik echoed similar views, stating that MI’s chances of qualifying are almost nil. With only five matches left, even a perfect run would take them to just 14 points — likely not enough given the current standings.
“Realistically, the campaign is 99.999% over,” Kartik said, highlighting the uphill task ahead for the five-time champions.
With the team struggling on all fronts, Mumbai’s IPL 2026 season now appears to be slipping away, leaving Hardik Pandya to shoulder the burden almost alone.
