Former Team India cricketer Manoj Tiwary has come down heavily on Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya for his lackluster performances in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season 2026. Tiwary has suggested that Pandya step down from his leadership role and hand over the reins back to former captain Rohit Sharma in order to improve the team’s results.

The Mumbai Indians team seemed to be in a decent position with 134/3 in the 14th over after Naman Dhir’s crucial 50-run knock. However, Hardik Pandya’s questionable decision to promote himself above Sherfane Rutherford during the death overs has been heavily criticized. He only managed to contribute 14 runs off 12 deliveries, leaving the team at 148/5.

Manoj Tiwary has questioned Pandya’s performance and decision-making during the season, stating that a weak captaincy approach has been evident. He believes that the former Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who successfully led the team to several trophies from 2015 to 2023, would be able to bring the necessary leadership to get the team back on track.

Tiwary has urged Pandya to be more proactive and take ownership of his actions. He believes that the captain should lead by example, rather than passing on the blame to others. It remains to be seen whether Rohit Sharma will return to his former role or if Hardik Pandya will manage to turn the team’s fortunes around. For now, the Mumbai Indians continue to struggle, with this loss bringing their total to four consecutive defeats in the ongoing season.

Despite struggling on the field, the Punjab Kings still managed to chase down the target of 195/6, securing a victory against the underperforming Mumbai Indians. Prabhsimran Singh and Shreyas Iyer played crucial roles in the victory, while Quinton de Kock’s unbeaten 112 runs for MI left a lasting impact before the game. Naman Dhir also made a significant contribution, hitting a crucial 50, but unfortunately, it was not enough to secure a victory for his team.