{"id":171759,"date":"2026-05-24T12:37:58","date_gmt":"2026-05-24T18:07:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=171759"},"modified":"2026-05-24T12:37:58","modified_gmt":"2026-05-24T18:07:58","slug":"ipl-2026-pollard-non-committal-about-hardiks-future-as-mi-captain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=171759","title":{"rendered":"IPL 2026: Pollard non-committal about Hardik\u2019s future as MI captain"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

Kieron Pollard on Sunday stopped short of offering a firm endorsement of Hardik Pandya\u2019s future as Mumbai Indians captain after another disappointing Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign, insisting the franchise would now undertake a \u201cthorough\u201d review before taking key decisions.<\/p>\n

For the second time in three seasons under Hardik\u2019s leadership, Mumbai finished at the bottom end of the points table with only four wins, despite boasting an experienced core comprising Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik, Tilak Varma and Jasprit Bumrah.<\/p>\n

READ<\/b> | Jofra Archer puts on all-round show to drag Rajasthan Royals into Playoffs<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, it has not gone maybe as well as he would have wanted as an individual. It might not have gone the way we would have wanted as management staff,\u201d Pollard admitted after MI finished its IPL 2026 with a loss against Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium. \u201cBut one thing you know is that we have tried each and everything to give the best opportunity to lead the franchise and do well.\u201d<\/p>\n

While backing Hardik\u2019s intent through a difficult season marred by injuries, inconsistent form and repeated lapses in on-field cohesion, Pollard refused to categorically confirm whether the allrounder would continue as captain next season.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou sit, you talk, see what\u2019s best. Never know what\u2019s going to happen,\u201d Pollard said. \u201cFor us, let\u2019s just lick our wounds in the meantime and hopefully come back stronger in 12 months\u2019 time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pollard also described the campaign as \u201ca season of what-ifs\u201d, admitting Mumbai Indians never managed to build sustained momentum through the tournament.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe weren\u2019t good throughout the entire tournament. We weren\u2019t able to string together wins and use the momentum when we got it,\u201d he said. \u201cAt the end of it, when you look at it rationally, I think we got the position that we deserved.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked whether the franchise now needed significant changes in personnel after a prolonged title drought, Pollard indicated that all aspects would be reviewed internally, though no immediate decisions were likely.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to be thorough. Guys are going to sit back and think about what\u2019s needed,\u201d Pollard said. \u201cThere\u2019s nowhere near the time to make unnecessary statements on stuff that we\u2019re not going to do right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Published on May 24, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n


\n
Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kieron Pollard on Sunday stopped short of offering a firm endorsement of Hardik Pandya\u2019s future as Mumbai Indians captain after another disappointing Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign, insisting the franchise would now undertake a \u201cthorough\u201d review before taking key decisions. For the second time in three seasons under Hardik\u2019s leadership, Mumbai finished at the bottom … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":171760,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-171759","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/11908_24_5_2026_19_25_37_2_DSC_1765.JPG","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":171523,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=171523","url_meta":{"origin":171759,"position":0},"title":"MI vs RR Head-to-Head Record, IPL 2026: Most runs, wickets, batting and bowling stats","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"May 24, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Rajasthan Royals will be hoping to beat Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday and qualify for the IPL 2026 Playoffs. The two teams have an almost even head-to-head record but MI holds a slender lead, winning 17 out of the 33 games played between the sides. The last\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/03_Index_RVM_6814.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/03_Index_RVM_6814.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/03_Index_RVM_6814.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/03_Index_RVM_6814.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/03_Index_RVM_6814.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":178548,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=178548","url_meta":{"origin":171759,"position":1},"title":"Hardik, Rohit get all-clear for ODI return from BCCi CoE","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"June 9, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya and senior batter Rohit Sharma have been cleared by the Sports Science team of the Board of Control for Cricket in India's Centre of Excellence to participate in the upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan starting on Sunday in Dharamsala. Both Hardik and Rohit missed quite\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Emirates_Cricket_Champions_Trophy_29250.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Emirates_Cricket_Champions_Trophy_29250.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Emirates_Cricket_Champions_Trophy_29250.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Emirates_Cricket_Champions_Trophy_29250.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Emirates_Cricket_Champions_Trophy_29250.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":171597,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=171597","url_meta":{"origin":171759,"position":2},"title":"IPL 2026 \u2014 Why is Jasprit Bumrah not playing against Rajasthan Royals?","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"May 24, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of Mumbai Indians\u2019 final league match of IPL 2026 against Rajasthan Royals at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday. Captain Hardik Pandya confirmed at the toss that the pace spearhead had been rested for the match. 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