‘No one is going to point fingers’ – Pollard on Hardik’s captaincy and MI’s season
Reflecting on a Lost Season for Mumbai Indians
The 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season has officially concluded for the Mumbai Indians, leaving the franchise and its supporters to grapple with a ninth-place finish. As the dust settles on what has been described as a campaign defined by ‘what-ifs,’ the focus shifts to internal reflection. Kieron Pollard, the team’s batting coach, recently addressed the media, emphasizing the need for a calm and calculated assessment of the season’s shortcomings rather than immediate reactionary measures.
The Philosophy of Collective Responsibility
Pollard, a veteran of the MI setup, was candid about the disappointment felt across the franchise. The team struggled to find rhythm, failing to string together the necessary wins to climb the table. However, he cautioned against making emotional decisions in the immediate aftermath of their final match against the Rajasthan Royals.
“Right now is not the time and place to talk about a post-mortem,” Pollard stated. “All these things will be sort of emotional decisions. Everyone needs that time and space to go, sit down, recollect, and have a fair assessment as to where it went wrong for us. It would be irresponsible from a management perspective to rush into conclusions right now.”
Addressing the Hardik Pandya Narrative
One of the central themes of the season has been the captaincy of Hardik Pandya. With the team falling short of expectations, speculation regarding the leadership has been rampant. Addressing these concerns, Pollard offered a measured defense of the skipper, reiterating that the franchise remains united.
“From a leadership perspective, Hardik, yes, it has not gone maybe as well as he would have wanted as an individual,” Pollard explained. “But one thing you know is that we tried each and everything to give him the best opportunity to lead the franchise. And again, no one is going to sit here and point fingers. When you lose, you have to look at it from a collective perspective. He was trying, we all were trying, and it just didn’t work out for us.”
The Status of Jasprit Bumrah
Another major talking point has been the performance of star pacer Jasprit Bumrah. After a season where he claimed only four wickets, questions were raised about his form and his absence from the season-ender. Pollard provided much-needed context, revealing that the pacer had been struggling with fitness following the T20 World Cup.
“To be honest, he came in with a bit of a niggle after the World Cup,” Pollard revealed. “We tried to manage it. He wasn’t his best self in terms of fitness, but he was able to come and try to deliver.” Regarding his absence from the final game, Pollard clarified that it was a strategic decision to protect a player who is a “prized possession for Indian cricket.”
Looking Ahead: A Thorough Review
As the Mumbai Indians look toward the future, the primary goal is to address the inconsistencies that have plagued them since their last championship win in 2020. Pollard emphasized that the upcoming period of reflection would be “thorough.”
The franchise understands that major changes require deep thought. Whether it involves retention strategies or tactical shifts, the management is committed to a process that avoids the pitfalls of short-term thinking. While the 2026 season was undoubtedly a setback, the emphasis remains on learning from these failures to rebuild a side capable of returning to the pinnacle of the IPL. The path forward for Mumbai Indians will rely heavily on the lessons learned during this challenging period, ensuring that the next chapter is built on a foundation of improved decision-making and renewed strategic focus.
