IPL 2026: Hardik Pandya sparks MI exit rumours after Instagram unfollow drama

Published - 11 May 2026, 10:07 IST | Updated - 11 May 2026, 10:11 IST

Hardik Pandya has once again found himself at the centre of intense social media speculation after fans noticed that the all-rounder had apparently unfollowed Mumbai Indians (MI) on Instagram following the franchise’s elimination from the Indian Premier League (IPL) IPL 2026 playoff race.

The online chatter began soon after MI suffered a defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on May 10 in Raipur, a result that officially ended their hopes of reaching the playoffs. Shortly after the match, fans claimed Hardik’s Instagram profile showed 150 accounts being followed, with Mumbai Indians missing from that list.

The situation quickly went viral across social media platforms, with many supporters linking the apparent unfollow to rumours of tension within the franchise after another disappointing IPL campaign. However, the speculation took another turn minutes later when fans observed that the number of followed accounts had increased back to 151 and MI had reappeared on Hardik’s following list.

Even though the change may have been temporary or accidental, it immediately became a major talking point because of the scrutiny surrounding Hardik’s return to MI ahead of IPL 2024. His appointment as captain in place of Rohit Sharma had divided opinion among fans, and every setback involving the team since then has attracted significant attention online.

This season proved to be another frustrating season for both Hardik and Mumbai Indians. The five-time champions struggled to build momentum and were unable to maintain consistency throughout the tournament. Hardik himself endured a difficult campaign with both bat and ball, managing only 146 runs and four wickets in eight appearances.

Injuries also disrupted his season. The MI captain missed multiple games due to a back spasm, including important matches against Lucknow Super Giants and RCB. During his absence, Suryakumar Yadav stepped in as stand-in captain.

Despite the disappointing results, reports suggest the Mumbai Indians management still continue to back Hardik’s leadership and do not see captaincy alone as the reason behind the team’s struggles.