Kapil Dev raises serious concerns over Hardik Pandya’s captaincy, questioning key tactical calls and MI’s dip in form as scrutiny intensifies following their loss to RCB.

Former Indian captain Kapil Dev has expressed concerns over Hardik Pandya's decisions during the MI vs RCB clash. The veteran player was seen criticising the MI skipper for the decisions he took during the match. One of the specific moments he mentioned was giving the ball to the spinner Mayank Markande while Rajat Patidar was on the crease even after knowing, Patidar plays spin well. He also noted that under Pandya’s leadership, Jasprit Bumrah has also not been looking the same.

“Hardik Pandya’s captaincy is something I really can’t understand. A batsman like Rajat Patidar, who plays spin very well, came in to bat, and at that moment he handed the ball to spinner Mayank Markande—and the result was as expected. Even Bumrah doesn’t look like Bumrah under Hardik Pandya’s captaincy. There are serious question marks over Hardik Pandya’s captaincy”, the player said.

There have been many questions around Pandya’s decisions during the matches and the drop in MI’s playing ability as the team has lost their last three matches in a row.

MI under Pandya’s leadership

Hardik Pandya’s leadership of the Mumbai Indians (MI) has been a period of significant transition and intense scrutiny. After rejoining the franchise from Gujarat Titans in 2024, he replaced long-time captain Rohit Sharma, a move that initially faced severe backlash from fans. While the 2024 season was difficult, finishing at the bottom of the table, Pandya has since focused on stabilizing the team's culture and performance. However, the team reached the playoffs last year in 2025 but lost to the Punjab Kings who then went on to be the first runners-up for the 2025 tournament losing to RCB who broke their 18 year losing streak.

 

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Following the recent loss to RCB, Pandya admitted the team needs to "rethink" its strategy, noting they have been playing "catch-up" rather than leading games. Critics like Ravichandran Ashwin have described his recent captaincy as "average," specifically citing tactical mismatches in the middle overs. Despite early rumors of unrest, Pandya has publicly celebrated the contributions of seniors, recently leading a heartfelt tribute to Rohit Sharma for his 15 years with the franchise.