Hardik Pandya is under increasing pressure as Mumbai Indians’ campaign continues to go downhill in the 2026 IPL season, witch the team securing only 2 wins in their 7 games. With the likes Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Tilak Verma, and Pandya himself, the Mumbai Indians came to this year’s IPL as the title contenders.
However, seven games in, A side that looked formidable on they find themselves in a must-win situation, fighting to stay alive in the playoff race. The lack of consistency and inability to close out key moments have left the franchise on the back foot at a crucial stage, as per the Hindustan Times.
Irfan Pathan’s sharp criticism
Against their arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians endured a crushing 103-run defeat, their heaviest margin in IPL history, instantly sparking questions over Hardik Pandya’s leadership.
The MI skipper has since reportedly faced sharp scrutiny for his on-field decision-making, with former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan openly highlighting tactical lapses from the Chennai clash. Pathan questioned the timing of key bowling changes and the handling of inexperienced players under pressure, suggesting that the decision-making lacked clarity at crucial stages of the game.
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Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube channel, "You (Hardik Pandya) make Krish Bhagat, who is playing his second match, bowl his first over in the 15th or 16th over against a set Sanju Samson. It was a wrong decision. You gave the last over to him, which was again not the right decision. You need to take responsibility and do better as a captain."
Pathan’s dig at Hardik’s strategies
Besides the debate around Mumbai Indians’ tactical calls, Pathan also questioned the team’s approach at the toss and in-game strategy during the Wankhede clash.
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"The team batting first has won four out of the last six T20 matches at Wankhede, but you wanted to chase here after winning the toss. It is a difficult task to win the toss and say we would bat first, but you will have to show that courage," he added.
The MI skipper is also going through a lean patch with the bat in IPL 2026, managing just 97 runs in six innings at an average of 19.40 and a strike rate of 140.58.
