A poor start to an IPL season is nothing out of the ordinary for Mumbai Indians. Even at its title-winning best, MI often took its own time to find rhythm.

That trend appeared to have changed when MI beat Kolkata Knight Riders in its first game of IPL 2026, breaking a 13-year streak of losing its season opener.

However, that proved to be a false dawn, as the five-time champion went on to lose its next four games. Old habits die hard.

Even five games into the season, the Hardik Pandya-led side is yet to settle on its ideal playing XII.

The batting order has been in constant flux, while the bowling set-up has looked unsettled, resulting in the team using 17 players this season. Only Chennai Super Kings has used more (18).

Injuries have also played their part. The side was without Hardik against Delhi Capitals and missed Rohit Sharma against Punjab Kings.

The imbalance in combination has only been compounded by a lack of contributions.

Not a single MI batter features in the top 30 of the run-getters list this season. Openers Ryan Rickelton and Rohit are joint-33rd and are the only ones with more than 120 runs (both 137).

The returns from Suryakumar Yadav (106), Hardik (81) and Naman Dhir (109) appear decent only when contrasted with the woeful output from Tilak Varma, who has managed just 43 runs from five innings so far.

Despite the absence of a holding figure in the batting unit, MI has scored at a run rate of 10.26, the fourth-best for a team this season.

But that scoring rate is completely offset by the team’s generosity with the ball. MI has conceded 11.34 runs per over in IPL 2026. No team in the league’s history has gone at more than 10.28 in a season.

Shardul Thakur is the leading wicket-taker for MI in IPL 2026, but his six scalps have come at a very high cost. He has conceded an eye-watering 13.57 runs per over.

What has truly dragged down MI’s bowling has been Jasprit Bumrah’s surprising lack of penetration. The Indian pacer has gone wicketless in the first five games. He has been the most economical of MI’s bowlers, going at 8.63 runs per over, but this is also his worst economy rate since IPL 2016.

Bumrah’s struggles have come to symbolise the crisis MI finds itself in during the early part of IPL 2026.

Skipper Hardik acknowledged the gravity of the situation after his side conceded a seven-wicket defeat to Punjab Kings at home.

“To be honest, I don’t have much to say. We need to go back and see where we’re lacking – if it’s individuals, groups or planning and work it out. We need to see if we need to make difficult calls or see if we continue and turn things around. Ownership has to be taken,” said Hardik.

Once again, MI has painted itself into a tricky corner, with a playoff spot looking increasingly distant. But if there is any team well-versed in rebounding from such situations, it is MI. If Hardik’s words are to provoke a reaction, the defeat to PBKS could yet prove to be a turning point in IPL 2026.

Published on Apr 20, 2026