Mumbai Indians’ search for a way out of their longest title drought in the Indian Premier League has led the franchise to look within. Kieron Pollard, who has been an integral part of its five-title journey, has been elevated to head coach ahead of the next edition.

Pollard replaces Mahela Jayawardene, whose two-season second stint ended with a disappointing IPL 2026 campaign for the team.

MI has gone six seasons without winning the IPL, its longest such streak, with its last of the five titles title coming in 2020. The franchise management, The Hindu understands, had toyed with the idea of overhauling the support staff but eventually decided to stick with continuity in terms of ideas, handing Pollard the reins after two seasons as batting coach.

The move extends one of the most enduring associations in the IPL. Pollard was acquired by MI at the auction ahead of the 2010 season after his exploits in the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 made him one of the most sought-after players in the format. He has remained loyal to the Mumbai franchise across the IPL ecosystem, first as a player and then as part of its coaching set-up.

Pollard’s familiarity with the franchise’s culture and his rapport with key figures in the dressing room are likely to be central to the decision. He shares a close relationship with Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya, two active cricketers who have led MI in different phases with contrasting results.

With Rohit potentially set to have a greater say in the team’s functioning, it will be interesting to see how Pollard’s elevation influences the franchise’s plans for the next season, particularly amid speculation over the possible release of some of its high-profile players.

“Polly knows what it means to wear the MI jersey and what it takes to play for the Paltan,” MI co-owner Nita M. Ambani said. “I am confident that he will bring the same commitment, belief and determination to this role.”

Pollard, meanwhile, described the appointment as an honour, underlining his bond with the franchise and its supporters.

“Having experienced this journey as a player and then as a coach, I understand what Mumbai Indians stands for and the responsibility that comes with representing the Blue and Gold,” he said.

Hardik Pandya could be at the centre of the Indian Premier League’s biggest trade story ahead of the 2027 season, with Mumbai Indians considering a significant overhaul after enduring its longest title drought in the competition.

While no trade has been officially confirmed, conversations around Hardik’s future had gathered momentum even before the conclusion of IPL 2026.

Chennai Super Kings has emerged as a possible next stop for the India all-rounder — and, given his profile, there would be no shortage of suitors if he does become available — while Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals have also been understood to be considering the Hardik option.

The speculation comes after three contrasting seasons for MI. After a disastrous 2024 campaign, the five-time champion recovered to reach the playoffs in 2025 before another underwhelming performance in 2026 prompted a comprehensive review within the franchise.

“Our post-season review is currently on and we are looking into all aspects. Contrary to reports, we are not engaged in conversations with regard to player trade. The same is only possible once the review is complete,” an MI spokesperson told The Hindu on Saturday. “A range of options and ideas are being evaluated, which require time… hence no decisions have been made.”

That review extends well beyond the captaincy. Sources close to the franchise indicate MI is evaluating its leadership group, coaching staff and overall cricket operations as it looks to rebuild a side that has failed to challenge consistently for the title in recent years.

Despite the growing buzz, Hardik’s exit is far from certain. His decision to part ways with MI’s talent management arm has fuelled speculation, but it is not being viewed as a complete break with the franchise.

Historically, MI has retained its core players for long periods and continues to be regarded as one of the strongest player-management ecosystems in Indian sport, making any move involving its captain a complex one.

The trade market, meanwhile, remains in its early stages, with most franchises still conducting post-season reviews before finalising their plans — meaning multiple scenarios will likely continue to circulate across the league in the coming weeks.

Whether Hardik leaves or not, one thing appears increasingly clear: Mumbai Indians is unlikely to head into IPL 2027 with the same core that has represented the franchise over the last three seasons.

And if the India all-rounder does switch teams, it could prove to be the defining move of this trade window.

“Mentally stressed and completely exhausted” after what has been a disastrous IPL, Mumbai Indians’ under-fire captain Hardik Pandya is set to quit the franchise and had conveyed this to the team management mid-season, a top tournament source told PTI on Friday (May 28, 2026).

The 32-year-old Pandya, who took over the leadership in 2024 replacing Rohit Sharma, informed the Mumbai Indians management about leaving the franchise weeks before the team’s disastrous IPL campaign ended.

Once the play-off hopes were dashed with quite a few games still left, it is learnt that both Pandya and MI reached an understanding on mutually parting ways.

“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,” an IPL source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

“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.

MI Fans had repeatedly booed Pandya during the games in the past two seasons and the all-rounder, despite seeming visibly affected by the heckling, maintained that “it has been a difficult but entertaining journey”.

The IPL source said, his patience has finally run out.

“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.

According to people privy to the developments, what hurt Pandya immensely was the fact that senior players, who demanded 100 per cent commitment when he played T20Is for India, were not exactly returning the favour when he was in-charge of the franchise.

It is, however, not clear whether Pandya is looking at a trade deal with another team or would prefer to enter the auction pool.

“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.” For someone who feels mentally drained, Chennai Super Kings wouldn’t be a bad option in case of a trade.

MI’s next captain

Mumbai Indians will need to start with a clean slate ahead of the 2027 mega auction, but before that there is still another IPL edition to navigate.

It will be interesting to see whether MI opts for a short-term solution or focuses on the bigger picture.

For the short term, there is no better skipper than Rohit Sharma, their five-time IPL-winning captain and still the biggest name in that dressing room.

For transition, his protege Tilak Varma, who is also on the radar of the national selectors, could be appointed his deputy.

It is an open secret that the 2027 World Cup is Rohit’s final frontier and, therefore, the IPL could also be his final season in the franchise ecosystem.

But whether MI would be willing to take a step back remains the big question.

Otherwise, the best solution would be to make Tilak the new skipper and persist with him for at least three seasons while building a fresh squad around him.

Moments after Rajasthan Royals sealed the final Indian Premier League playoffs berth with a convincing win over Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday (May24, 2026) night, head coach Kumar Sangakkara passionately defended captain Riyan Parag, insisting the young allrounder remains the “absolute right guy” to lead the franchise despite a turbulent IPL 2026 season.

Parag’s maiden full season as captain has been marked by inconsistent batting returns, recurring fitness concerns and off-field scrutiny, including repeated social media criticism following the vaping incident in the dressing room during a match. Yet, Sangakkara made it clear that the Royals management remains firmly invested in the 24-year-old.

“I have seen very few players who have been criticised like Riyan has been for about seven years now,” Sangakkara said. “Ever since I came to the franchise, there have always been people who liked Riyan, but there are a lot who didn’t really like him, especially on social media. But that’s the reality of the modern game.”

The former Sri Lankan captain revealed that Rajasthan never doubted Parag’s leadership credentials when handing him the captaincy before the season.

“When we decided to offer Riyan the captaincy, he was the absolute right guy to lead this franchise. I have no doubt in my mind,” Sangakkara said.

Despite battling physical niggles through parts of the campaign and enduring fluctuating form with the bat, Parag continued to front up for the Royals during their successful late push towards qualification. Sangakkara particularly praised the batter’s resilience and commitment.

“The confidence with which he drives himself, sometimes almost on one foot to come and play, there is a huge amount of positivity,” Sangakkara observed. “I think he has captained exceptionally well.”

Sangakkara also stressed that Parag commands complete respect inside the dressing room, irrespective of outside noise.

“Sometimes what you see on the outside is not Riyan Parag,” he said. “He is a lovely, soft, gentle, really determined, smart young man. He has learned a lot in the last few years and he will continue on that journey.”

Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene admitted that the five-time champion failed to “galvanise” as a unit through a forgettable IPL season.

The Sri Lankan also revealed that premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah had carried a niggle from the T20 World Cup into the initial phase of IPL 2026. “Once we lost a few games and some confidence, we had some really good conversations within the group,” Jayawardene said on the eve of MI’s last game of the campaign.

The Mumbai outfit yet again finds itself closer to the wooden spoon battle than the playoff race with inconsistent performances derailing its season despite flashes of promise. “At different stages of the competition, we sat down and discussed what we needed to do. We would win a game but then repeat the same mistakes and lose again.”

Jayawardene acknowledged that many opponents had outplayed MI. “In some matches, we weren’t even able to compete. Honest conversations have happened within the group, but we haven’t been able to galvanise and get across the line. It’s something for us to reflect on post-season,” he said.

Shedding light on Bumrah’s low returns in the first half of the season, the chief coach revealed that the fast bowler had been managing a lingering issue from the T20 World Cup.

“Bumrah had a niggle which he played with through the World Cup. We gave him adequate rest before the IPL, but the first four-five games were about gradually building him up. You could see that the pace had dropped a little.”

But, according to Jayawardene, Bumrah has regained his rhythm and pace over the last few matches, but MI’s inability to build pressure from the other end has allowed opposition teams to play him cautiously. “I wouldn’t worry about Bumrah,” Jayawardene said. “He is in good spirits and will come back strong.”

Even before the final round of league-stage matches began, Sunday (May 25, 2026) afternoon’s fixture at the Wankhede Stadium had already emerged as the most consequential contest of the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) business end.

Of the five teams that were still in contention for the lone remaining playoffs spot, Rajasthan Royals is the only side with its fate firmly in its own hands.

Adding to the intrigue is the maiden appearance of teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi at the Wankhede — that too in front of nearly 19,000 schoolchildren attending as part of Mumbai Indians owners’ Education and Sports For All initiative. For perhaps the first time at the venue, the Royals could find themselves enjoying overwhelming crowd support.

The equation for Rajasthan Royals is straightforward: win and qualify. But the challenge is anything but simple.

The Royals management will anxiously monitor the fitness of captain Riyan Parag and veteran allrounder Ravindra Jadeja. Yet, even in their absence, stand-in skipper Yashasvi Jaiswal marshalled the side impressively before Sooryavanshi’s explosive innings against Lucknow Super Giants earlier this week kept RR’s campaign alive.

Rajasthan will once again bank on the youthful duo of Sooryavanshi and Jaiswal — returning to his alma mater — while hoping Jofra Archer continues his fine rhythm with the ball.

Mumbai Indians’ Suryakumar Yadav during a practice session ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 T20 cricket match against Rajasthan Royals, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Saturday, May 23, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
PTI

But facing Mumbai Indians with nothing to lose can often be a dangerous proposition. After an underwhelming season, the home side will be desperate to sign off on a winning note. It will be interesting to see if Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya — the duo that has had a lacklustre season — end it on a high.

Will Mumbai Indians play disruptor-in-chief? Or will Rajasthan Royals seal the playoffs berth and render the final league game in Kolkata irrelevant?

Mumbai Indians wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock and pace-bowling all-rounder Raj Angad Bawa were on Tuesday (May 19, 2026) ruled out of the remainder of the IPL season due to injuries.

Already eliminated from the playoff race, Mumbai Indians have two matches left this season — against Kolkata Knight Riders in Kolkata on Wednesday (May 20, 2026) and Rajasthan Royals on Sunday (May 24, 2026).

De Kock has been ruled out with a tendon injury in his left wrist, which he sustained ahead of MI’s home game against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Bawa, meanwhile, suffered a ligament tear in his right thumb during MI’s previous match against Punjab Kings.

De Kock played three matches this season after beginning his campaign with an unbeaten 112 against Punjab Kings on April 16.

He last featured against Chennai Super Kings on April 23 before missing the SRH clash after being hit on the wrist during practice.

Bawa made three appearances for MI this season.

“Both Quinton and Raj Bawa will continue their rehab in their respective homes, with support and guidance from the Mumbai Indians medical team to help them return to play as soon as possible,” MI said in a statement.

“Mumbai Indians wishes them a quick recovery and will announce replacements as per IPL guidelines,” it added.

After three weeks on the sidelines nursing a hamstring injury, Rohit Sharma made a grand return to IPL 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday.

Rohit wasted little time reminding everyone of his class, producing 84 off 44 balls (6×4, 7×6) to breathe life back into Mumbai Indians’ flickering playoff hopes and script a commanding six-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants.

The road to the IPL 2026 playoffs may seem distant for Lucknow Super Giants, which sits at the bottom of the table.

However, bowling coach Bharat Arun believes all is not lost yet. “There is light at the end of the tunnel. For us, there’s no other way. Every game is a knockout for us right from here,” Arun said.