Hardik Pandya has come under intense scrutiny following Mumbai Indians’ disappointing start to IPL 2026. With just one win from five matches, MI currently sit near the bottom of the points table, raising serious concerns about their campaign.
Their latest setback came at home against Punjab Kings, led by Shreyas Iyer, as MI slumped to their fourth defeat of the season. The team’s only win so far came against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium.
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Former India batter Manoj Tiwary openly criticised Hardik’s leadership, suggesting that the issues go beyond just this season. He highlighted how Rohit Sharma had built a successful legacy, guiding MI to five IPL titles between 2013 and 2023.
Tiwary stated that leadership requires accountability and proactive decision-making, something he believes has been missing. He even went on to suggest that Hardik should step down as captain and hand the responsibility back to Rohit, calling the earlier leadership change unfair.
Apart from captaincy concerns, Tiwary also questioned Hardik’s tactical calls during the loss to PBKS. He criticised the decision to promote himself in the batting order, where he managed just 14 off 12 balls, while Sherfane Rutherford faced only a handful of deliveries despite his aggressive potential.
Bowling strategies also came under the scanner. Tiwary questioned why Jasprit Bumrah was not given the first over, while Deepak Chahar opened despite struggling to generate swing.
