Hardik Pandya backstabbed!! Rohit, Bumrah, and Suryakumar conspire over dinner to remove him from Mumbai Indians' captaincy- Report

Mumbai Indians (MI) became the first team to be eliminated from playoffs contention during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. According to recent reports, senior members of the Mumbai Indians team expressed concerns about the team's performance under captain Hardik Pandya's leadership.

Mumbai Indians management appointed Hardik Pandya as the skipper ahead of the IPL 2024 season. Pandya replaced veteran opener Rohit Sharma, who led the team to five titles in IPL history. The Mumbai fans repeatedly booed the Mumbai Indians skipper on match days at the start of the ongoing season.

The Mumbai Indians began the season with three consecutive losses under the leadership of new captain Hardik Pandya. They managed to secure three wins in their next four matches before suffering four successive defeats. They defeated SunRisers Hyderabad in their most recent match in the season.

The Mumbai Indians can only achieve a maximum of 12 points even if they win their remaining two games, which would leave them outside the top four positions. Mumbai will take on the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their next matches on May 11 and 17, respectively.

Hardik Pandya Backstabbed By Teammates

As per a report in The Indian Express, senior members have approached the coaching staff to express their unhappiness over Hardik Pandya's leadership and the lack of energy in the dressing room. However, an MI official defended Hardik, stating that the team requires some time to adjust to a different captaincy.

"These are regular teething problems for a team that sees leadership change. This happens in sports all the time," the MI official said, as quoted by The Indian Express.

Hardik Pandya Blamed Tilak Varma Following Loss To Delhi Capitals

Following a loss to the Delhi Capitals, Hardik Pandya blamed Tilak Varma for the team's lack of "match awareness," which stirred controversy within the Mumbai Indians dressing room. Pandya's singling out a player for the loss was not well received by his teammates.

“When Axar Patel (DC bowler) was bowling to a left-hander (Tilak), the better option could have been to go after him. I think it was just a little game awareness that we missed out on. At the end of the day, that cost us the game,” Hardik told the broadcasters.

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke stated that there are different groups within the Mumbai Indians dressing room. The former cricketer pointed out that they are not gelling together in the ongoing tournament.

“I think there are different groups inside that changing room and something is not working. They are not gelling together, they are not playing as a team,” said Clarke.

Aaron Finch stated that Hardik Pandya appeared "flattened and drained." Irfan Pathan, Shane Watson, and Steve Smith questioned the team's decisions during their loss to the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Also read: SRH vs DC: Pat Cummins on the end of a heartwarming gesture from the Hyderabad crowd during SRH vs LSG match