A Dynasty In Disarray: Where Did MI’s Winning DNA Go?

From emerging as the most successful franchise of the 2010s – with five IPL titles from 2013 to 2020 – to not reaching a final in six years: where did a juggernaut like Mumbai Indians go wrong in their pursuit of that sixth IPL title? 

A Change In Hierarchy

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

One could see why Mumbai wanted Pandya back. The Baroda man had led his Gujarat Titans side to two back-to-back IPL finals – winning the first one on a canter while narrowly missing out on a second title against the Chennai Super Kings. Hardik Pandya – being only 30 at the time – was perceived as the future, while Rohit was 37, with his best years seen as behind him. The MI regime were trying to replicate the same long-term winning combination they had once built with Rohit – but this time around the flamboyant Hardik Pandya. 

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

Although the manner of the transition lacked both class and grace, relegating someone of Rohit Sharma’s stature to just a fringe figure (having used him extensively as an Impact Sub), despite his standing as a batter and a wonderful man-manager and tactician, incensed the Mumbai fans to such an extent that even at the Wankhede Stadium – 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 as the backers of the franchise made it clear where their loyalty lies. 

While Mark Boucher faced the sack as MI finished bottom of the table with just four wins – many believed he was merely made a ‘scapegoat’ with the team reinstating Mahela Jayawardena 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 with just a win against Punjab Kings in their final league fixture enough to ensure a top-2 finish but Pandya’s team failed to cross the final hurdle. Paired up against the Kings again in Qualifier 2, MI came up short once again. 

It’s now three seasons of the Pandya era and Mumbai Indians are clearly nowhere better than they were when they started this journey 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 Mumbai 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 Hardik 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, courting his umpteenth failure after falling for a golden duck. While Jasprit Bumrah, the best bowler in the world, continued his barren run – the seventh time this season that he had gone wicketless – and not to forget all the fumbles and mistakes and errors of judgements that translated to an eighth loss in 11 outings and an early ticket home.

Time For a Reset?

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

Moreover, one would imagine that 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; and I’m not sure that the MI think-tank believes that’s a tack which will appeal to the larger management structure. 

In terms of output as an out-and-out player (leaving the captaincy aspect to the side for a minute), Hardik Pandya has failed to inspire his troops both with words and actions – and that’s said without bias or malice. 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 Lucknow Super Giants and Riyan Parag from the Rajasthan Royals. 

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

But that’s where man-management and leadership comes into the picture, doesn’t it, when there is a crisis to overcome, a ‘situation’ to handle? The Pandya-Jayawardena partnership hasn’t been up to scratch. Lethargy and miscommunication in the field and a feeling that every man is playing for himself – MI are the classic example of a collection of star individuals who can’t seem to gel at the moment. 

With the side they have, they should have been in the middle of one their dominant winning runs of yesteryears; 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 mid-2013 the Mumbai Indians had a tough time with their leadership group – having to deal with an aging group of legends with most of them not offering the longevity and consistency one would expect from their leader-in-chief. 

As a result, while the decision to appoint Rohit Sharma mid-way 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 – resulted in five IPL titles 

Thus, with Rohit already out of the picture at 39, and the likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and skipper Hardik Pandya already on the wrong side of 30, perhaps it won’t be the worst idea to delegate greater responsibility to Tilak Varma, who is only 23 now. 

The young Hyderabad-born cricket is as much a Mumbai Indians product as anyone else on this list. It was here that he made his IPL debut in 2022, and has been a consistent performer in all five seasons. Moreover, being only 23, he has a long, distinguished career ahead of him. Although handing him the captaincy right now might seem a bit premature, but assigning him a more significant role, both with the bat and in a decision-making capacity, is something Mumbai should start considering with the start of the 2027 season.

Besides, a shake-up in the backroom staff also feels imminent. When things are going well – continuity becomes a virtue but when they aren’t – these long stints become a sign of comfort and stagnation. Moreover, it can then result in shying away from responsibilities and manifest into a system where people are given a much longer leash than they sometimes deserve. 

Mumbai Indians are still – alongside the Chennai Super Kings – the most successful franchise in the history of the Indian Premier League, and 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 million-dollar question they must first answer.