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The IPL 2026 season of five-time champions Mumbai Indians was very disappointing. The team is out of the race for the playoffs and the defeat against Royal Challengers Bangalore on the last ball completely dashed their hopes. Mumbai has won only three matches so far this season, after which questions are being raised on the strategy and leadership abilities of captain Hardik Pandya.
Manjrekar gave a big statement
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar openly said that Mumbai Indians now need to think beyond Hardik Pandya. He advised the franchise to make Jasprit Bumrah the captain. Manjrekar said, ‘I want to see Bumrah as captain, because very few people understand the game as much as he does.’ Praising Bumrah, he said that his bowling is not just based on action, but he reads the batsman, the pitch and the match situation brilliantly.
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Sanjay Manjrekar – Photo: BCCI
Why do you want to make Bumrah the captain?
Manjrekar believes that Bumrah has leadership potential and he should get a chance in the IPL. He said, ‘Hopefully he should get a chance to captain at least in the Indian Premier League.’ He also believed that IPL captaincy will be less burdensome for Bumrah compared to Test captaincy, because there is a different level of fitness pressure.
Talk about ‘package deal’ with Hardik
Manjrekar also questioned the decision of Mumbai Indians when the team included Hardik Pandya back by trading him. He said that coach Ashish Nehra also played a big role in Hardik’s success in Gujarat Titans. He said, ‘If Hardik was going to come to Mumbai, then Ashish Nehra should have also been brought along with him. It should have been like a package deal. This statement indicates that Hardik did not get the right support system, due to which he could not make the same impact as captain.
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Hardik and Bumrah – Photo: ANI
Increasing criticism on Hardik
Hardik Pandya’s captaincy was constantly targeted by fans and cricket experts this season. Questions were raised many times on team selection, bowling changes and decisions taken under pressure. Although Hardik is a great all-rounder, this season has proved difficult for him as captain.
Will Mumbai Indians take a big decision?
Mumbai Indians has always been a team that takes big decisions. In such a situation, before the next season, the team management can seriously think about the captaincy. Jasprit Bumrah has been the most reliable player of the team for a long time and he also has a lot of experience. If Mumbai makes a change, it could be the beginning of a new era for the franchise. After the poor performance in IPL 2026, the captaincy of Mumbai Indians has become a big topic of discussion. Sanjay Manjrekar’s advice has further intensified the debate. Now it will be interesting to see whether the team continues to trust Hardik or gives new responsibility to Bumrah.