Mumbai Indians' turbulent IPL 2026 season may be over, but fresh questions have emerged around two of their biggest stars as the franchise reportedly prepares for a comprehensive review. While Suryakumar Yadav's cryptic Instagram activity has fuelled speculation about his relationship with the franchise following his removal as India's T20I captain, Hardik Pandya's future has also come under scrutiny after another disappointing campaign.
Mumbai Indians' captain Hardik Pandya, left, and Suryakumar Yadav run between the wickets during an Indian Premier League cricket match (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
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Suryakumar's recent social media moves — the follow-unfollow-refollow Mumbai Indians episode — have generated significant buzz. The intrigue deepened after he deleted several posts related to the franchise, developments that came in the wake of the BCCI's decision to replace him as T20I captain. While he has since followed Mumbai Indians again on Instagram, he no longer follows franchise captain Hardik, prompting fresh questions about his long-term future with the team.
However, according to a Cricbuzz report, Suryakumar's position at Mumbai Indians "appears secure for now," with "no immediate indication of the franchise releasing or trading him."
As for Hardik, speculation surrounding his future has intensified following another underwhelming season as captain. Since taking over the leadership role, Mumbai Indians have finished 10th in 2024, reached the playoffs and finished third in 2025, before slipping to ninth place in 2026.
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As for Hardik, speculation surrounding his future has intensified following another underwhelming season as captain. Since taking over the leadership role, Mumbai Indians have finished 10th in 2024, reached the playoffs and finished third in 2025, before slipping to ninth place in 2026.
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The report added that the franchise believes a thorough introspection is necessary. "There is no panic," a source tracking developments was quoted as saying. "The franchise will regroup and reflect on the season."
It further stated that Mumbai Indians management is expected to sit down with Hardik in the coming days to discuss "the way forward for both the team and the player," with sources indicating that "any decision will be taken in the interest of both parties."
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Following the season, rumours of a potential trade involving Hardik gathered momentum. However, while several franchises are understood to have expressed interest in the all-rounder, the report stated that no formal approach has been made so far.
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.
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