A dynasty in disarray: Where did MI’s winning DNA go?

From emerging as the most successful Indian Premier League franchise of the 2010s, lifting five domestic titles between 2013 and 2020, to not reaching a final in six years: where has the Mumbai Indians juggernaut gone wrong in pursuit of that sixth IPL title?

A change in hierarchy

Perhaps it all boils down to the decision that was influenced by the MI leadership group’s vision for the future, a vision that entailed getting their prodigal son Hardik Pandya back from the Gujarat Titans, where the Baroda all-rounder enjoyed grand success as the leader-in-chief.

One could see why MI wanted Pandya back. He led the Titans to back-to-back IPL finals, winning the first one on a canter while narrowly missing out the second time. Only 30 at the time, Pandya was perceived as the future, while Rohit Sharma was 37, with his best years considered to be behind him.

The MI regime were trying to replicate the same long-term winning combination that worked for them with Rohit, this time around with the flamboyant Hardik.

The logic was unmistakable, but the manner in which the transition was handled left a lot to be desired. Former South African wicket-keeper Mark Boucher, who took over the head coach role at MI in 2023 after Mahela Jayawardene moved to a broader strategic role, was tasked with handling this transition.

The manner of the transition lacked both class and grace. Relegating someone of Rohit Sharma’s stature to just a fringe figure and using him extensively as an Impact Sub, despite his standing as a batter and a wonderful man-manager and tactician, incensed the fan base to such an extent that even at Wankhede, their home base, Pandya was roundly booed every single match.

In some ways, it was hard not to feel for him. In other ways, it was a clear enough message from the backers of the franchise, who made it clear where their loyalty lay.

While Boucher faced the sack, with MI finishing bottom of the table with just four wins in 2024, many believed he was merely made a scapegoat as the franchise reinstated Jayawardene as the head coach from the 2025 season onwards.

The aftermath

The 2025 season started in a similar fashion, with only one win in their first five games. However, a sudden shift in the middle phase saw them win seven in eight. A win against the Punjab Kings in their final league fixture would have been enough to ensure a top-two finish, but Pandya’s team failed to cross the final hurdle. Paired up with PBKS again in Qualifier 2, MI came up short once again. 

We are now three seasons into the Hardik Pandya era, and the Mumbai Indians are clearly nowhere close to being better than they were when they started this project back in 2024. Their opening-game victory against the Kolkata Knight Riders earlier this year — a first in twelve seasons — on the back of a dominant batting display promised a new dawn for this massive franchise with countless possibilities. 

And yet here we are, some six weeks later, with MI knocked out of contention following a last-ball heartbreak against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Raipur on Sunday night. It was a match that perfectly summed up their season; they were good in parts, like the fightback through the middle overs as well as removing the RCB top order cheaply, but when push came to shove, they were found wanting. Maybe only just, but that was enough to seal their fate, at least for this edition of the Indian Premier League.

Skipper Pandya was once again sidelined, still recovering from the hamstring injury that has now compelled him to miss two matches in a row. Stand-in skipper Suryakumar Yadav was missing as a batter once again and fell for a golden duck. Jasprit Bumrah, the best bowler in the world, continued his barren run, marking a seventh wicketless outing this season. Not to forget all the fumbles, mistakes, and errors in judgement that translated to an eighth loss in 11 games for an early ticket home.

Time for a reset?

If MI are brutally honest with themselves — and one would hope they are, for their own sake — they will realise that it is time for a systemic reset.

It should start from the very top, which will encompass the leadership group of Hardik Pandya, the captain, and Mahela Jayawardene, the head coach. However, removing Hardik as the skipper would also insinuate that roping him in from GT was an error of judgement in the first place, which will not appeal to the larger management structure.

In terms of output as an out-and-out player, Hardik has failed to inspire his troops both with words and actions. Only 146 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 136, while picking up only four wickets with an economy of 11.90, makes him one of the least productive skippers in the tournament alongside the equally misfiring Rishabh Pant of the Lucknow Super Giants and Riyan Parag of the Rajasthan Royals.

Of course, injuries to certain key individuals haven’t helped MI’s cause either, with Rohit missing five matches through injury and Kiwi all-rounder Mitchell Santner ruled out for the season with a shoulder injury. Besides, the fact that Jasprit Bumrah doesn’t know where his next wicket will come from, that Trent Boult has lost bite and efficacy, and that Suryakumar Yadav is in the middle of an extended horror run have also not helped their cause.

But that’s where man-management and leadership come into the picture, when there is a crisis to overcome, a situation to handle. To that end, the Hardik–Jayawardene partnership hasn’t been up to scratch. Lethargy and miscommunication in the field and a feeling that every man is playing for himself are classic examples of a collection of star individuals who can’t seem to gel at the moment.

With the squad they have, MI should have been in the middle of one of their dominant winning runs of yesteryear; instead, they are merely going through the motions, with finger-pointing and a fractious squad all too evident even from the selective visuals on television.

Backing their modus operandi

From 2008 to 2013, the Mumbai Indians had a tough time with their leadership group, having to deal with an ageing group of legends and a leader-in-chief who didn’t offer consistency.

As a result, while the decision to appoint Rohit Sharma midway through the 2013 season in place of a proven winner like Ricky Ponting felt reactionary and a downgrade at the time, the fact that Rohit eventually was able to mould the squad his own way over an eight-year period paved the way to their five IPL titles.

Now, with Rohit already out of the picture, and the likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and skipper Hardik Pandya also on the wrong side of 30, perhaps it won’t be the worst idea to delegate greater responsibility to someone like Tilak Varma, who is only 23 now.

The young Hyderabad-born cricketer is as much an MI product as anyone else. It was here that he made his IPL debut in 2022 and has been a consistent performer ever since. Although handing him the captaincy right now might seem a bit premature, assigning him a more significant role both with the bat and in a decision-making capacity is something Mumbai should start considering going into next season.

A shake-up in the backroom staff also feels imminent. When things are going well, continuity becomes a virtue; when they aren’t, long stints become a sign of comfort and stagnation. It could lead to shying away from responsibilities and manifest into a system where people are given a much longer leash than they sometimes deserve.

The Mumbai Indians are still, alongside the Chennai Super Kings, the most successful franchise in the history of the Indian Premier League. They are not used to such consistent inconsistencies as seen in the last few seasons. If they are serious about halting their alarming downslide, they must crack the whip and make some tough calls, with an eye on 2027 and beyond. Whether that entails starting at the top is the big question they must first answer.