Former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary defended Hardik Pandya amid heavy criticism over his leadership in the ongoing IPL 2026 season.
Tiwary stated that Pandya is being unfairly targeted for Mumbai Indians’ (MI) poor performances, adding that his teammates have not supported him well enough during IPL 2026.
KEY POINTS:
- Manoj Tiwary backed Hardik Pandya amid criticism
- Blamed MI players for lack of support and inconsistency
- Mumbai Indians lost to CSK by eight wickets
What Happened?
Mumbai Indians suffered an eight-wicket defeat against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday, May 2. MI posted 159/7 after electing to bat first.
The Super Kings chased down the target with 11 deliveries remaining. It marked the seventh defeat of the season for Mumbai Indians.
No One Is Standing With Hardik Pandya – Manoj Tiwary
Speaking on Cricbuzz, Manoj Tiwary expressed sympathy for Hardik Pandya during a difficult IPL 2026 season.
He said that while a captain must earn the dressing room’s trust, the current setup lacks the support Pandya needs to lead the Mumbai Indians effectively.
“It was already over for me. When I sit here, I speak openly about what I see. Based on the cricket I’ve witnessed, a captain must win the confidence of every player; you have to be a leader. However, it feels like no one is standing with Hardik. The support he needs simply isn’t there,” Tiwary said.
Other Players Must Take Responsibility – Manoj Tiwary
Manoj Tiwary further criticized the Mumbai Indians players for failing to take responsibility for their inconsistent performances. He pointed out the poor form of key batters like Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma, questioning how the team can deliver results without collective consistency.
“Yes, the captain has a role, and in my opinion, he isn’t playing well. But beyond that, the other players must take responsibility. For instance, Surya is not performing consistently on a daily basis, and Tilak hasn’t maintained his form after one good match. With that kind of inconsistency from the squad, how can you produce results? It’s very disappointing,” Tiwary added.
Despite featuring international captains like Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah, Mumbai Indians have been struggling with inconsistency. No batter has crossed the 300-run mark, while Allah Ghazanfar is the only bowler in the top 30 wicket-takers list with more than 10 wickets this season.
The Campaign Is 99.999% Over – Murali Kartik On Hardik Pandya-led Mumbai Indians
Former India spinner Murali Kartik dismissed any realistic playoff chances for the Mumbai Indians this season. He explained that the points table scenario makes it almost impossible for the five-time champions to break into the top four, even if they win all their remaining matches.
“Look, you have five matches left. I’m saying forget who you are playing against-even if you win five out of five, you only reach 14 points. If you look at the table now, PBKS, RCB, SRH, and RR are all sitting around 12 or 13 points. Even if those teams only win two or three more games, they will remain ahead,” Kartik said.
“Even if Mumbai wins every remaining match, 14 is their ceiling. Meanwhile, the top four teams still have games in hand. Punjab Kings have six matches left; RCB and SRH have five; Rajasthan has four. There would need to be a massive shift for MI to qualify. As it stands, the other teams are well ahead, and even GT is struggling to climb up from the bottom. I would say the campaign is 99.999% over,” he concluded.
Mumbai Indians are currently in ninth place on the points table with just four points and a net run rate of -0.803. They will next face Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday, May 4.
FAQs
- Q – Why is Hardik Pandya being criticised?
- A – He has faced criticism due to Mumbai Indians’ poor performances in IPL 2026.
- Q – What did Manoj Tiwary say about Hardik Pandya?
- A – He defended Pandya and said the captain is not getting enough support from teammates.
- Q – Can Mumbai Indians still qualify for playoffs?
- A – It is highly unlikely, as they are currently near the bottom of the table.
Also read: T20 Mumbai League 2026 Full Squads: Complete Team Lists, Top Buys and Icon Players
