‘Hardik Pandya has no support’: MI face not just captaincy crisis as Suryakumar, Tilak dragged into growing downfall

Fformer India cricketer Manoj Tiwary believes Mumbai Indians' downfall cannot be pinned on captaincy alone.

Updated on: May 3, 2026, 12:52:45 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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The Mumbai Indians are all but out of IPL 2026. Despite a slim mathematical chance, Hardik Pandya has virtually conceded defeat, admitting it has not been their season. For a five-time champion, seven losses and a ninth-place standing have invited heavy criticism, with the skipper bearing the brunt. But former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary believes the downfall cannot be pinned on captaincy alone.

Mumbai Indians' captain Hardik Pandya, left, Jasprit Bumrah, right, and Suryakumar Yadav during a IPL 2026 game (PTI)

Speaking to Cricbuzz after Mumbai’s defeat to Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk on Saturday, Tiwary said the season had effectively slipped away a while ago, even though a faint qualification chance remains if results go their way.

The former KKR batter pointed out that Mumbai have fallen short of their own standards, largely due to a lack of support for Hardik from the rest of the squad. While he admitted that the captaincy has not been good enough, he stressed that inconsistencies from players like Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma have hurt the team.

ALSO READ: Mumbai Indians not ready to drop Suryakumar Yadav, but recurring IPL 2026 struggles raise red flags

"For me, it's over. It was over a long time back. The type of cricket that we got to see...the captain has to win the confidence of each of the players. You have to be the leader. But it seems Hardik has no one with him. He is not getting the kind of support that he should be getting. Yes, a captain has a role to play, which I feel he is not able to do, but other players also have to stand up. Suryakumar Yadav has not been able to perform consistently. Tilak scored in one game but did not score in the others. If there is so much inconsistency among players, how will you be able to get results? This is disappointing. This is no longer a Classico, because Chennai have won six of the last six matches," he said.

Suryakumar has scored at a strike rate of 144 in this IPL season, but has been lacking runs. In nine innings thus far, he has averaged only 20.33 with a tally of 183. Tilak, on the other hand, has been one of the centurions this season, having smashed an unbeaten 101 against the Gujarat Titans, but scored only 92 runs in the rest of the eight innings.

Rohit Sharma has not played any of the last five matches for Mumbai since being down with a hamstring injury with no update yet on his return, while Jasprit Bumrah has picked up only three wickets this season.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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