Top News

Hardik Pandya's absence: Mumbai Indians coach hits back at 'politics' allegations!
Udayavani | May 11, 2026 3:39 PM CST

Mumbai: Following Mumbai Indians' official exit from the IPL 2026 playoff race, rumors of internal rift within the team have begun to surface.

Speaking at a press conference after the defeat against RCB on Sunday, May 10, Mumbai's head coach Mahela Jayawardene admitted the team's failure to maintain consistency. "This season has been extremely disappointing for us. We did not perform to our expected levels in both batting and bowling. Winning just two or three more matches would have taken us to the playoffs, but we faltered at crucial moments," Jayawardene expressed with disappointment.

Hardik Pandya's absence

Addressing the absence of captain Hardik Pandya, the coach clarified that he is suffering from a back spasm. When questioned about frequent changes in the playing XI, he responded, "We are not changing the team intentionally. Many players were struggling with injuries, making these changes inevitable. Had our key players been consistently available, the results would have been different."

'Not a political decision': Coach clarifies

Jayawardene gave a direct answer to a pointed question on whether retaining or dropping star players like Suryakumar Yadav, despite their poor form, was a 'political' decision.

"This is definitely not a political decision. We have faith in the players' abilities. They are working hard on the field. The way Rohit Sharma came out to play for the team despite being injured is a testament to their commitment. You cannot drop experienced World Cup-winning players over failures in a couple of matches. We placed our trust in them, but as a team, we failed," he defended.

Overall, the 2026 edition will remain a bitter memory for the five-time champions, Mumbai Indians. It remains to be seen how the team will reconstruct itself for the next season.

READ NEXT
Cancel OK