Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya trolled rival franchises ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. The all-rounder sparked intense discussions among cricket fans with his comment on no stars on the Mumbai Indians jersey ahead of the tournament, which is scheduled to begin on March 28.
Notably, Mumbai have five Indian Premier League titles, jointly with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for the most titles. Despite their success, the Mumbai Indians have avoided displaying championship stars on their official match jerseys, prompting questions during a recent interactive fan event held in Mumbai.
Hardik Pandya Explains the Missing Stars on Mumbai Indians Jersey
Speaking during the recent MI fan event, Hardik Pandya was asked about the missing championship stars on the official Mumbai Indians kit. Hardik said that adding stars for every tournament victory would eventually clutter their iconic blue jersey design.
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“We want to win as many as possible. We are fortunate that we have 5 already, aur aage daalne fir jagah nahi bachega [won’t have enought space to add more stars],” the all-rounder said.
Hardik Pandya reveals why Mumbai Indians jersey doesn’t have any stars on it.🗿 pic.twitter.com/nffULVIX7L
— Gems of Cricket (@GemsOfCrickets) March 22, 2026
Mumbai Indians are the most successful team in IPL history, winning five titles in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020 under Rohit Sharma. They became the first franchise to reach this milestone.
The team’s success comes from strong leadership, smart scouting, and a stable core featuring Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, and Suryakumar Yadav, who delivered consistently.
Fans See Hardik Pandya’s Comment as Dig at RCB Ahead of IPL 2026
Fans immediately perceived this brutally honest statement as a direct dig at defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru recently added a single star to their jersey after securing their maiden Indian Premier League title last year. They ended their long-standing title drought under Rajat Patidar’s captaincy by defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the final.
Notably, Hardik will face his older brother Krunal Pandya when the Mumbai Indians host the Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 12.
Krunal Pandya currently plays for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, adding an exciting sibling rivalry to this highly anticipated clash at the Wankhede Stadium.
Hardik Pandya Set for Third Season as MI Captain Ahead of IPL 2026
Pandya will head into his third consecutive season leading the Mumbai Indians since his blockbuster trade return from the Gujarat Titans (GT).
Under his leadership last year, the Mumbai Indians reached the playoffs before suffering a five-wicket defeat to the Punjab Kings in the Qualifier 2 clash.
The five-time champions will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 29 at the Wankhede Stadium. They will then travel to face the Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on April 4.
Mumbai Indians will next take on Rajasthan Royals at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on April 7, before returning home for their clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
