Mumbai Indians (MI) are enduring a tough campaign in the ongoing IPL 2026, with a lack of collective efforts against the opponents, leaving them ninth on the points table. Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has advised the Hardik Pandya-led side to change their mentality to compete in the modern T20 game.
Ravichandran Ashwin urges MI to rethink approach
On his official YouTube Channel, Ashwin opined that the MI is following a fixed formula that feels outdated in modern T20 cricket, adding that the team needs a complete reset in its approach.
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"MI needs a thought process reset. They have a consistent method, fast bowlers up front swinging it, the same pattern of players, and they have a formula. That formula might have to be rejigged as I feel the game has changed," said Ravichandran Ashwin.
Further Ashwin shed light on MI's problem of leaking too many runs even after having a premier pacer like Jasprit Bumrah in the line-up.
"They are haemorrhaging runs. They have been struggling to limit batters to less than 10 runs in every over, including Bumrah's," added Ashwin.
Murali Kartik trolls Mumbai Indians team management
In an interaction with Cricbuzz, Murali Kartik took a cheeky dig at Hardik Pandya and Mumbai Indians team management for not banking on Shardul Thakur's wicket taking ability in their clash against SRH, maybe they forgot about the options available in front of them.
"I don't understand it at all, why did they even bring him in? Maybe they forgot about him. Only god can tell us why this was done, or Hardik Pandya. So far, he has played five matches, and he did not pick a wicket in only one match. He took 3 wickets against KKR as well," Murali Kartik said on Cricbuzz.
Mumbai Indians' disappointing form in IPL 2026
Mumbai Indians kicked off the season with a great note, securing a commanding win over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their season opener, but things took a sharp turn afterwards. After eight games, the Hardik Pandya-led side secured only two wins. The Mumbai-based franchise sit at ninth place with just four points in hand at a net run rate of -0.784.