In a disappointing match for the Mumbai Indians (MI), captain Hardik Pandya faced severe criticism after his team lost to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 103 runs in IPL 2026. This defeat marked MI's heaviest loss against CSK and pushed them down to 8th place in the points table, with only two wins from seven matches. Hardik's performance was underwhelming, scoring just 1 run and contributing minimally with the ball, taking only three wickets across six games. Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan slammed Hardik's captaincy, particularly his decision to let newcomer Krish Bhagat bowl during crucial overs, resulting in a combined 31 runs conceded. Pathan emphasized that Hardik needs to take responsibility and improve his decision-making as captain, while also addressing his batting flaws, urging him to adjust his footwork. Since 2023, Hardik has not managed to score a half-century, raising concerns about his form.