Hardik Pandya has been a puzzle in the IPL in recent years. He’s a force in the Indian team, trusted to bowl tough overs and turn games with audacious, momentum-shifting strokeplay. But his aura seems diminished in the IPL since his return to Mumbai Indians (MI) in 2024.
This IPL season, Hardik has scored 97 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 140.57, and taken just three wickets from 15 overs. Set against that are his T20I returns for India this year: 286 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 165.31, and 13 wickets in 13 innings.
In recent times, Hardik’s won crucial moments for India. When England needed 39 off 12 in the 2026 T20 World Cup semi-final, he bowled an excellent penultimate over in which he conceded just nine runs and dismissed Sam Curran. In the 2024 T20 World Cup final, he held his nerve in the 20th over when South Africa needed 16.
Since the beginning of 2026, Hardik has bowled 10 overs at the death for India in eight innings, taking five wickets and conceding an economy rate of 9.7. In the ongoing IPL, he has bowled just two overs in that phase across six innings, taking one wicket and conceding 13 runs an over.
His reluctance to bowl at the death was evident against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Wankhede Stadium. After conceding 38 runs in two overs up front, Hardik opted against returning at the death, instead handing the final over to the inexperienced Krish Bhagat against a set Sanju Samson. It’s possible he did not come on after being hammered by Samson earlier, but so was Bhagat, who had conceded 15 runs in the 16th over. Samson hit him for 16 more in the final over, pushing CSK’s score to a what turned out to be a match-winning 207. Head coach Mahela Jayawardene later described it as an opportunity for the youngster “to step up”.
The broader pattern suggests this is not just a short-term dip for Hardik in the IPL. During his years as Gujarat Titans (GT) captain in 2022 and 2023, he scored 833 runs at an average of nearly 38 in 30 innings, and picked up 11 wickets in 21 innings, leading the side to a title and a runner-up finish. Since rejoining MI, he has scored 537 runs from 31 innings at 20.65. His strike rate, however, has improved from 133.50 to 150.40 with him playing a finisher’s role for MI as compared to batting up the order for GT. With the ball, he is striking more frequently – 18.4 balls per wicket compared to 30.2 – but he has an economy rate of 10.7, among the highest in the IPL in this period.
The higher batting strike rate and better wicket-taking frequency have also reflected in Hardik’s performances for India, suggesting that the core of his all-round ability has remained intact. In 46 matches for India since 2024, he has scored 940 runs at a strike rate of over 155 and taken 41 wickets at an economy rate of 8.65. On his comeback from in December 2025 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he blasted an unbeaten 77 off 42 balls to help Baroda chase down 223 against Punjab, followed by two Player-of-the-Match performances for India in the T20Is against South Africa.
So why is it different for Hardik at MI, where he is also around several of his India team-mates? Is it the weight of expectations in a star-studded dressing room, or the responsibility of captaincy? The inconsistency around him, with MI still searching for a settled XI halfway into the season, could also be playing a part.
There have been flashes of what he is capable of. Hardik began the season with promise, contributing at the death with both bat and ball in a successful chase of 221 against Kolkata Knight Riders. Against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he struck a six off his first ball en route to 40 off 22. Yet, he has completed his full quota of four overs just once this season.
Jayawardene, on two occasions, refused to isolate Hardik’s form as the central issue for the MI’s woes – they are in ninth place with two wins after seven games.
“I don’t think his form is a concern. He started well in the first few games, he bowled really well. I think overall as a unit we haven’t been consistent. Overall bowling we haven’t been very good, we haven’t managed to pick early wickets, we haven’t managed to control things in away conditions as well. It’s an overall thing. It’s not one individual, as a team we have to improve.”
Hardik’s recent IPL returns remain a mystery, and MI’s prospects in IPL 2026 may well hinge on whether he can tap into the version of himself that turns out for India.
