Hardik Pandya Sparks MI Exit Speculation After Instagram Unfollow Controversy
Hardik Pandya is once again in the spotlight, stirring up a whirlwind of speculation on social media. Fans noticed that the all-rounder had seemingly unfollowed the Mumbai Indians (MI) on Instagram right after the team was knocked out of the IPL 2026 playoff race.
The buzz started right after MI faced a tough loss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on May 10 in Raipur, which officially dashed their playoff dreams. Shortly after the game, fans pointed out that Hardik’s Instagram showed he was following 150 accounts, and notably, Mumbai Indians was not among them.
This situation quickly went viral, with many fans connecting the unfollow to rumors of discord within the franchise following another disappointing IPL season. However, just minutes later, the narrative shifted when fans noticed that Hardik’s followed accounts had jumped back to 151, and MI was back on his list.
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Whether this change was a temporary glitch or an accident, it quickly became a hot topic, especially with all eyes on Hardik’s potential return to MI for IPL 2024. His recent appointment as captain, taking over from Rohit Sharma, has sparked mixed reactions among fans, and any hiccup involving the team has drawn significant online attention.
This season has been another tough ride for both Hardik and the Mumbai Indians. The five-time champions struggled to find their rhythm and couldn’t keep up a consistent performance throughout the tournament. Hardik himself faced challenges, managing only 146 runs and four wickets in eight matches.
Injuries also played a part in his struggles. The MI captain missed several games due to a back spasm, including crucial matches against Lucknow Super Giants and RCB. During his time away, Suryakumar Yadav took over as the stand-in captain.
Despite the less-than-stellar results, it seems that the Mumbai Indians management is still firmly behind Hardik’s leadership. They don’t view the captaincy as the sole reason for the team’s challenges.
