Veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle has expressed surprise at this. Mumbai Indians' The disappointing campaign in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 suggests that very few would have expected five-time champions MI to miss out on the playoffs.
Highlighting the struggles of the Hardik Pandya-led side, Bhogle pointed out that given the strong team depth and history of performing well under pressure, the franchise entered the season as one of the favourites. However, inconsistent performances and failure to capitalize on crucial moments have led to them slipping down the points table.
He wrote on
The Hardik Pandya-led side in particular has struggled to get going as a unit, with both their batting and bowling departments lacking consistency throughout the tournament. Despite boasting several proven match-winners, MI have failed to string together a win, ultimately dashing their playoff hopes.
“I thought out loud on my YT channel about a hypothesis that reputation is becoming a burden in modern T20 cricket as a possible reason. I don't know if all the forces inside were together, but it could be the second one. And the experiment with Hardik Pandya as captain is now 3 years old and has only produced a play-off once, so maybe something is not working there. But I'm sure no one has predicted MI into the play-offs. Must have been seen not making space,” Harsha Bhogle concluded.
I have to admit, I've never seen a star-studded team like this. #MumbaiIndians Yes, get separated like this. The only possible indicator could have been that, apart from Bumrah, the others had not had an excellent T20WC. But no one would have predicted this. I thought out loud about one…
– Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) 3 May 2026
Bhogle's comments reflect the general sentiment around the league, where MI's underwhelming performance despite having league stalwarts like Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav has been one of the biggest surprises of the season. Jasprit BumrahAnd Trent Boult.
Despite winning their first match against Kolkata Knight Riders, nothing has gone in their favor since then. They are currently placed ninth in the points table with only two wins and seven losses. To stay in the league, MI will now face Lucknow Supergiants on May 4 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
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