‘No one is going to point fingers’ – Pollard on Hardik’s captaincy
Reflecting on a Challenging Campaign
The 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season will be remembered by the Mumbai Indians faithful as one defined by ‘what-ifs’ and missed opportunities. Following a defeat to the Rajasthan Royals in their final fixture, the five-time champions found themselves finishing in a disappointing ninth position. Kieron Pollard, the team’s batting coach, did not shy away from the gravity of the situation during his post-match press conference.
Pollard acknowledged that the team simply failed to find its rhythm throughout the tournament. ‘Overall, it has been disappointing for all of us as Mumbai Indians,’ he stated. ‘I’m sure the fans and everyone would have felt the same, and there’s no hiding from that. We weren’t good the entire tournament. We weren’t able to sort of string together wins and use the momentum when we got it.’
Avoiding Hasty Conclusions
Despite the frustration surrounding the campaign, the Mumbai Indians management is determined to avoid knee-jerk reactions. Pollard emphasized that now is not the time for immediate post-mortems or emotional finger-pointing. Instead, he believes the franchise requires a period of calm assessment.
‘Right now is not the time and place to talk about that,’ Pollard explained. ‘All these things will be sort of emotional decisions and thinking of every aspect of what’s needed. Everyone needs that time and space to go, sit down, recollect, have a fair idea and assessment as to where it went wrong for us. If you sit here right now and say you need to do this, you need to do that, I think that will be irresponsible from a management perspective.’
A Thorough Review Expected
With the Mumbai Indians having not lifted the trophy since 2020, the pressure to evolve is palpable. Pollard promised that the upcoming internal review would be comprehensive. The team is aware that deep thinking is required to bridge the gap between their current performance and their historically high standards.
Addressing Leadership and Strategy
The performance of Hardik Pandya as captain has been a central theme of discussion throughout the season. When asked about the leadership transition and the team’s struggles, Pollard maintained a collective perspective.
‘From a leadership perspective, Hardik, yes, it has not gone maybe as well as he would have wanted as an individual,’ Pollard admitted. ‘But one thing you know that we’d have tried each and everything to give him the best opportunity to lead the franchise to do well. And again, no one is going to sit here and point fingers. I think when you lose, you have to look at it from a collective perspective. So you win some, you lose some. He was trying, we all were trying and it just didn’t work out for us.’
Bumrah’s Season Under the Spotlight
Another point of contention for fans was the form of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. While his economy rate remained impressive at 8.37, he managed only four wickets across his appearances, his leanest season since 2015. Pollard provided context, citing fitness concerns as a major hurdle.
‘To be honest, he came in with a bit of a niggle after the [T20] World Cup,’ Pollard noted. ‘We tried to manage it. He wasn’t his best self in terms of fitness perspective and all of that. But he was able to come and try to deliver.’
Regarding the decision to sit Bumrah out for the final match, Pollard defended the move as a protective measure for a vital player. ‘Sometimes you need to understand the player, understand what’s necessary at this point in time. He’s a prized possession for Indian cricket. So sometimes you have to take the smarter option.’
As the Mumbai Indians head into the off-season, the focus shifts from the disappointments of 2026 to the strategic planning required to return to the summit of the IPL in the coming years.
