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Mumbai Indians IPL 2026 (Image: Internet)
New Delhi: Mumbai Indians endured a difficult Indian Premier League 2026 season, finishing ninth in the 10-team standings after a 30-run defeat to Rajasthan Royals on Sunday, May 24. The loss marked their 10th of the campaign and officially ended their playoff hopes.
Captain Hardik Pandya has come under increased scrutiny after failing to guide the side into the playoffs in two of his three seasons as captain since taking charge in 2024. Questions around his leadership have intensified following another underwhelming season for the franchise.
Batting coach Kieron Pollard acknowledged that the team’s leadership outcomes did not meet expectations. Speaking after the defeat, he said both the captain and management had worked to give Pandya the best possible environment, but results fell short.
Pollard stressed that responsibility for the poor season cannot be placed on one individual alone. He said the team must take collective ownership of the failures, adding that effort from the players and leadership group was never in question despite inconsistent performances.
Pollard explained that the franchise made every effort to support its captain, but circumstances did not align in their favour. He added that the dressing room remained united and focused on improvement despite the setbacks throughout the season.
Addressing speculation about a possible squad rebuild, Pollard said the franchise will not rush into emotional decisions. He emphasised that internal reviews require time, reflection and a fair assessment of what went wrong before any structural changes are made.
He added that the organisation would prefer to step back, analyse the campaign carefully and return stronger in the next season rather than make immediate reactive decisions.
