According to a top tournament source who spoke to PTI on Friday, the Mumbai Indians’ under-fire captain Hardik Pandya is “mentally stressed and completely exhausted” after what has been a terrible IPL and had informed the club management of his intention to leave the team in the middle of the season.
Weeks before the Mumbai Indians’ terrible IPL season came to a conclusion, the 32-year-old Pandya, who succeeded Rohit Sharma in 2024, told the team’s management that he was leaving the franchise.
It is reported that Pandya and MI came to an agreement to split ways when the playoff hopes were shattered with a few games remaining.
“Hardik was mentally stressed and completely exhausted. He had also sustained a back injury. In fact, once the play-off hopes were dashed, Hardik informed the decision-makers that he wouldn’t be staying back,” PTI quoted an IPL source as saying.
“Please understand that Hardik is only 32. He returned to MI in 2024 when he was 30. He was booed in the first year and this season too things didn’t go according to plan,” the source added referring to the change of guard in which the hugely popular Rohit was replaced as captain.
Pandya was frequently jeered by MI supporters during games over the previous two seasons, but the all-rounder said that “it has been a difficult but entertaining journey” despite seeming obviously impacted by the jeers.
His patience has finally worn out, according to the IPL source.
“There is only so much that a young man can take. The last three years haven’t been easy for him. The MI dressing room that he had left in 2021 wasn’t the same when he returned in 2024. Not every senior player was on the same page.
“If results come despite divergent views, you still won’t feel frustrated. But when everyone pulls in different directions, after a point you don’t have the mental bandwidth to carry on. So, Hardik had decided mid-season that he wouldn’t be part of MI next season,” the source further said.
People with knowledge of the proceedings claim that Pandya was hurt by the fact that veteran players, who had expected 100% dedication when he played T20Is for India, were not exactly repaying the favor when he was in control of the team.
However, it’s unclear if Pandya would rather enter the auction pool or consider a trade arrangement with another team.
“One thing is for sure. He is done with MI. Closer to August, one might get some indication about what his next move will be.”
In the event of a deal, Chennai Super Kings would be a good choice for someone who is mentally exhausted.
Before the 2027 mega auction, the Mumbai Indians must start over, but there is still another IPL season to get through. It will be intriguing to observe if MI chooses a temporary fix or concentrates on the long term.
Rohit Sharma, their five-time IPL champion and still the biggest name in that dressing room, is the best captain for the near future. His protégé Tilak Varma, who is also being considered by the national selectors, might be named his deputy during the transition.
The IPL may be Rohit’s last season in the franchise environment since it is widely known that the 2027 World Cup is his last frontier. However, the crucial question is whether MI would be prepared to retreat.
If not, the wisest course of action would be to appoint Tilak as captain and stick with him for a minimum of three seasons while assembling a new team around him.
