[By Ajay Motiwala Sports Correspondent Mumbai Samachar Desk]
Mumbai: Just as nobody can predict what might happen in a cricket match especially in the T20 format the same uncertainty currently surrounds the Mumbai Indians. There is growing discussion that all is not well within the Mumbai camp this IPL season. Until Saturday, the team had managed to win only three out of ten matches and was almost out of the playoff race. Amid this disappointing campaign, two players from the former champion side are under intense scrutiny: Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav. Their poor run of form could directly benefit Shreyas Iyer in international cricket. Let’s take a closer look.
First, there is the case of Hardik Pandya. His absence from the Mumbai Indians squad since last Monday has become a major talking point. In the match against Lucknow Super Giants at Wankhede Stadium, Suryakumar Yadav led the team in Hardik’s absence. Even now, there is continued suspense over whether Hardik will play Sunday’s match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Raipur. It is being said that he missed the Lucknow game because of back pain, but the speculation keeps growing for two reasons: first, Hardik has failed to deliver with both bat and ball this IPL season; second, as captain, he has not been able to lift Mumbai out of the lower half of the table.
Ever since Hardik returned to Mumbai Indians as captain, he has remained at the center of controversy, while Rohit Sharma too has continued to make headlines in one way or another. Last Monday, while Hardik sat out injured, Rohit returned to the playing XI after recovering from injury and smashed 84 runs off just 44 balls, including seven sixes and six fours, laying the foundation for Mumbai’s victory under Suryakumar’s captaincy.
The message is hard to miss. The captain and all-rounder Hardik Pandya misses a crucial game during Mumbai’s difficult phase, while Rohit who had been sidelined for days due to injury returns and scores 80-plus runs to guide the team to victory.
There is little doubt that the mega auction ahead of IPL 2027 could bring major changes. Will Hardik return to the Gujarat Titans? Will Rohit once again become firmly established within the Mumbai setup? The situation around Suryakumar Yadav appears even more complicated because of his poor batting form. There is uncertainty over whether Mumbai will retain him next season. While his stand-in captaincy has shown promise, his lack of runs is negatively affecting the team’s balance and planning. However, with the recent birth of his daughter, some believe Surya’s fortunes could soon change and he may rediscover his best form.
Amid all the discussion around Hardik, Rohit, Surya, and Mumbai Indians, the most fascinating story is that of Shreyas Iyer. Reports suggest he could be handed leadership responsibilities for India national cricket team in the T20 format after the IPL. If that happens, Suryakumar Yadav could lose the India T20 captaincy, with Shreyas taking over instead. Some reports even suggest that Shreyas is being considered for leadership of India’s ODI side as well.
Shreyas Iyer, who led the Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title in 2024, was surprisingly not retained by the franchise for the 2025 season a decision many now view as a major mistake. Punjab Kings acquired him for ₹26.75 crore in 2025, and he guided the team to a runner-up finish. This season too, Punjab are performing strongly under his leadership and are considered one of the favorites for the title.
Shreyas has scored 333 runs in 10 matches so far, and his fielding has also been exceptional. On April 16, he grabbed a stunning catch of Hardik Pandya near the boundary rope — a moment many are calling the “catch of the tournament.”
The bottom line is clear: the struggles of Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav could directly open the door for Shreyas Iyer, because he has shown that he can both handle the pressure of captaincy and consistently contribute with the bat. That remains his biggest strength. There is little doubt that Team India could have a new captain in the coming months.