Before the IPL season began, one look at the Mumbai Indians squad was enough to convince me that this was a playoffs-bound team. With names like Rohit Sharma, Quinton de Kock, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult in their ranks, Mumbai looked stacked with both experience and match-winning ability.
But just a few weeks into the tournament, that optimism has evaporated. Seven matches in, MI have lost five, the latest defeat coming against Chennai Super Kings. The bigger concern is not just the losses, but how underwhelming this team has looked across departments.
Form has been a major issue. Suryakumar has struggled badly, while Tilak Varma has looked out of depth, barring a solitary explosive innings where he smashed a 45-ball century. Rohit Sharma began the season well but has since lost momentum and is now sidelined with injury. Bumrah, usually Mumbai’s most reliable performer, has managed just two wickets in seven games. Boult has been ineffective, and the supporting cast, including Shardul Thakur, has been expensive.
However, the biggest disappointment has been Pandya. Neither his batting nor his bowling has clicked, and his captaincy has raised serious questions. In the recent game against Chennai, Pandya’s decision-making stood out for the wrong reasons. Instead of taking responsibility in the death overs, he handed the ball to a 21-year-old playing only his second IPL match. The result? 31 runs conceded across crucial overs by Krish Bhagat.
When a seasoned international allrounder, with multiple global titles to his name, chooses not to step up in high-pressure moments, it signals deeper issues within the setup.
Beyond individual form, there are signs that something isn’t quite right within the team environment. The body language has been off, and despite strong public statements from Pandya, there has been little visible improvement. It raises the question: is the dressing room lacking cohesion?
There are also concerns around squad construction. Traditionally known for their strong scouting network, Mumbai appear to have a surprisingly thin Indian bench this season. Compared to other franchises, their reliance on big names over domestic depth is evident.
At this stage, MI do not look like a team capable of mounting a comeback. Slow starts have been part of their DNA, but this time, the problems seem deeper. For Mumbai fans, the question is simple — is this just a bad phase, or the sign of a season slipping away?
