Cricket – Mumbai Indians Begin Detailed Review After Difficult IPL 2026 Campaign
Cricket – Mumbai Indians are preparing for a comprehensive assessment of their underwhelming IPL 2026 campaign after the franchise ended the tournament near the bottom of the points table. Despite criticism surrounding the team’s performance and leadership, batting coach Kieron Pollard made it clear that captain Hardik Pandya would not be singled out for blame following the disappointing season.
The five-time IPL champions concluded their campaign with a defeat against Rajasthan Royals, leaving them in ninth place with only eight points from the season. The result marked another difficult year for the franchise, which has not lifted the IPL trophy since 2020.
Pollard Reflects on Missed Opportunities
Speaking after the final match, Pollard described the season as one filled with missed chances and inconsistent performances. According to him, the team repeatedly failed to capitalise on important moments that could have changed the direction of their campaign.
He admitted that the squad struggled to maintain momentum even after securing occasional victories. Pollard said the franchise understood the disappointment felt by supporters and acknowledged that the team did not perform to the standards expected from Mumbai Indians.
The former West Indies all-rounder stressed that the management would avoid making rushed decisions immediately after the season. He explained that emotional reactions often lead to poor judgement, adding that the franchise would first take time to carefully evaluate every aspect of the campaign before deciding on future changes.
Management Plans Careful Assessment
Pollard said the team management intends to conduct a detailed internal review over the coming weeks. He noted that every department of the franchise would analyse where the season went wrong and identify areas that require improvement ahead of the next edition of the league.
The batting coach also recognised that repeated disappointing seasons have increased pressure on the franchise. Mumbai Indians reached the playoffs in the previous season, but their dramatic fall this year has raised fresh questions about consistency and long-term planning.
According to Pollard, the review process will involve serious discussions about strategy, squad balance and execution on the field. However, he maintained that decisions should only be made after calm and measured evaluation rather than immediate criticism.
Hardik Pandya Receives Backing
Questions regarding Hardik Pandya’s captaincy continued throughout the tournament, especially as the team struggled to produce winning performances consistently. Pollard, however, defended the skipper and urged observers not to react solely based on one difficult season.
He pointed out that the franchise had finished among the top teams only a year earlier, which, in his view, justified many of the strategic decisions taken by the management. Pollard warned against changing opinions too quickly depending on short-term results.
Backing Hardik’s leadership, Pollard said the captain had received complete support from the coaching staff and management throughout the season. He added that both players and support staff worked collectively to improve results, but things simply did not go according to plan.
Pollard further stated that responsibility for the poor campaign should be shared by the entire group rather than being placed on one individual. He said cricket remains a team sport where success and failure belong to everyone involved.
Bumrah’s Fitness Concerns Revealed
Pollard also disclosed that senior fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah dealt with fitness concerns during the season. According to him, the India pacer entered the IPL carrying a minor issue after the T20 World Cup, and the franchise attempted to manage his workload carefully throughout the competition.
Although Bumrah featured in 13 matches, he managed only four wickets during the season. However, he maintained a respectable economy rate of 8.37 despite not being fully fit.
Explaining Bumrah’s absence from Mumbai Indians’ final game, Pollard said the management chose to prioritise the player’s long-term fitness instead of risking further strain in a match that carried no impact on playoff qualification.
He added that the team wanted to give opportunities to other bowlers in the squad while also protecting one of India’s most valuable cricketing assets. Pollard insisted that resting Bumrah was a sensible and responsible decision considering the circumstances.