Ambati Rayudu Criticizes Hardik Pandya Amidst Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2026 Struggles

A Season of Discontent for Mumbai Indians

The IPL 2026 season has proven to be a nightmare for the Mumbai Indians, and at the heart of the storm is captain Hardik Pandya. With the franchise currently languishing in ninth place on the points table, the pressure on the leadership is reaching a boiling point. Amidst this turmoil, former Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians stalwart Ambati Rayudu has stepped forward, offering a blunt assessment of Pandya’s current form and decision-making on the field.

The Numbers Paint a Bleak Picture

Hardik Pandya’s performance throughout this season has been significantly below his usual standards, both as a batter and as a bowler. The statistical decline is impossible to ignore:

• Batting Struggles: In eight matches, Pandya has managed only 146 runs at a mediocre average of 21. His strike rate, usually his greatest asset, sits at a disappointing 136, with a top score of just 40.
• Bowling Woes: His impact with the ball has been even more limited, yielding only four wickets across the campaign at a staggering average of 61.5. Perhaps most concerning is his economy rate, which is hovering near 12 runs per over.

The recent loss to Chennai Super Kings on May 2 served as a microcosm of these issues. Pandya laboured to 18 runs off 23 balls, effectively stagnating the innings as Mumbai reached a sub-par total of 159/7, which CSK chased down with minimal resistance.

Rayudu’s Critique: Smart vs. Arrogant

Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Ambati Rayudu did not mince his words regarding how the Mumbai skipper should navigate this slump. According to Rayudu, the path forward is not found in forced aggression, but in tactical humility.

“It happens to most of the batters at some point in their careers for sure,” Rayudu noted. “The only thing is you need to have a way out and also realize and accept that I am not in form. You need to maybe rotate strike a little more, get off strike, choose and pick your moments and bowlers and be smart about it rather than be arrogant about it.”

Technical Adjustments Needed

Rayudu also offered specific technical advice regarding how Pandya handles deliveries in the death overs. He observed that many middle-to-lower order batters fall into the trap of dragging the ball toward the on-side, especially when facing pace. Rayudu believes Pandya is failing to adapt to balls moving away from him in the final 6-7 overs of an innings.

“You are not set up to hit over point or use the pace on the off side. That is what he should have done. He should have just taken a little bit of room and maybe tried to hit the bowler over point or third-man,” Rayudu explained.

The Road Ahead for MI

It is not solely Pandya’s form that is plaguing the five-time champions; the entire team has struggled to find stability, leading to a disjointed campaign. With only two wins in nine matches and a current three-match losing streak, the management is under immense pressure.

As the team prepares for their next encounter against the Lucknow Super Giants at the Wankhede Stadium, the question remains whether Pandya can silence his critics or if the slide toward the bottom of the table will continue. Furthermore, off-field rumors—including recent footage of Pandya meeting with the CSK CEO—have only added fuel to the fire, stoking speculation about his long-term future in the league. For now, however, the focus remains on the immediate need for a turnaround in Mumbai’s fortunes.