IPL 2026: Can the struggling Mumbai Indians make yet another comeback?

"To be honest, I don't have much to say right now," said Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya after his side endured a seven-wicket hammering to Punjab Kings on Thursday (April 16). It was MI's fourth defeat from five games this season and the team's body language in most games has mirrored the skipper’s remark.

The main target of the fans and experts right now is Pandya and since he is the captain, the backlash is expected. But MI's problems are a lot more complicated than just him. Of course, Pandya is having a horror time as skipper with his tactics being amateurish.

It doesn't help when your personal form is also stuttering alongside the team's collective struggles. Also, you have to remember that Pandya's return to MI in 2024 did occur as an unprecedented move in the league's history. But, let's talk about the present.

Batting template in powerplays

MI have a star-studded batting line-up that should be able to blow teams away. About 2-3 years ago, they would certainly have. However, the game has moved ahead at the rate of knots in the IPL and MI are currently lagging behind.

Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock or Ryan Rickelton are world class openers but can they get MI those 75-80 run powerplays more frequently? Not quite. They might fire in the odd game, but not consistently enough.

Middle order woes

Suryakumar Yadav did roar back to form at the end of T20 World Cup 2026 but it is now evident that his peak years are probably beyond him. He will turn 36 at the end of this year and the recent surgeries have seemingly affected his gameplay.

The other point is that Yadav is a kind of player whose batting methods will inevitably fade as he ages. He relies a lot on his hand-eye coordination and reflexes, with the wrists being the heart of his batting. This is not to suggest that he is done but a peak seems tough.

Tilak Varma is the other middle order batter who has often swapped the no. 3 and no. 4 spots with Yadav, depending on the match situation and match-ups. Tilak has batted a bit too low, and the likes of Naman Dhir and Sherfane Rutherford haven't been managed well either.

Bowling problems

Jasprit Bumrah is wicketless for six IPL games in a row now. SIX! That in itself is a worry but not the major problem. The pace ace has not looked to be in top form in terms of pace. He has also leaked boundaries and even sixes, which is unheard of – he has gone for 8.63 runs per over so far. His IPL economy rate, before this season, has always hovered around the 7-run mark.

However, Bumrah is someone who can always turn it on at will but his support staff in the bowling unit is well short of being competitive. Trent Boult looks a spent force while Deepak Chahar has been underwhelming.

Shardul Thakur had a good game but that's been about it for the Mumbai workhorse. Allah Ghazanfar and Mitchell Santner have also flattered to deceive, which begs the question - why isn't Will Jacks in the XI yet?

Change in captaincy?

Pandya's own form is a worry and maybe, MI need a change in leadership. They would also need a massive squad overhaul but all this is unlikely till 2027 or the mega auction in 2028.

It's not like the MI squad right now is extremely short on quality or experience. Even with this side, MI could make the playoffs with a bit of luck and some individual brilliance. But that sixth title will have to wait a bit longer, you would think. Can MI make a turnaround this season? They have done it in style in the past – in 2015, they lost five of their first six matches and were almost out of the tournament. But, they won nine of their remaining 10 matches and defeated Chennai Super Kings in both the Qualifier 1 and the final to lift the trophy. Ten years after that, they launched yet another fightback. After losing four of the first five matches, they went on a six-match winning streak, making the play-offs.

For now, only RCB and PBKS look like runaway trains. RR, too, have begun superbly but they do have a history of tailing off in the latter half. The fourth spot remains wide open. So, MI could still sneak into that top-four but the road ahead looks challenging.

It's a road that won't get easier with just a captaincy change and it's high time MI fans realised that.