It's been six years since Mumbai Indians (MI) lifted the IPL trophy, with the last title coming in the 2020 season under Rohit Sharma's captaincy. But things took a downturn since Hardik Pandya replaced Rohit as the leader of the side in the 2024 edition.
With MI's yet another horrible campaign in the ongoing IPL 2026 season, it is being reported that the dressing room has been divided in two sects. The claim is a huge negative for a team like MI, which always valued its core group throughout the years.
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Spat in the MI dressing room?
According to a latest report from Times of India, the MI dressing room has been divided and filled with so much toxicity ever since Hardik Pandya came back to the franchise after a two year spell at Gujarat Titans (GT).
"Differences exist in almost every dressing room, but the division and bitterness at Mumbai Indians have been unusually high since Hardik returned," the source said.
The report further claims that the entire team management is very disturbed with the dressing room leaks, as some of the sensitive information has been leaked over the last three years.
"It doesn't take an expert to see what's happening, but for a franchise like Mumbai (Indians), which has always valued its core group, the constant leaks are a major concern. It's a strong word, but it's the reality. That dressing room has seen legends, captaincy transitions, and more, but it has never been like this," the report added.
MI's plan of action
Before the top management formulates its strategy, their immediate focus could be on stopping these leaks. A similar approach to the "emoji episode" may be adopted, as the Mumbai-based side do not want any more internal matters to come out in the public eye. As per the report, management is not happy with these developments.
The report claimed that players are taking too long to get fit and come back, as it looks like everyone is merely going through the motions rather than performing with genuine intent and commitment towards the franchise.