With Mumbai Indians (MI) struggling near the bottom of the points table, former South Africa all-rounder Shaun Pollock has pointed to three senior players as the biggest reasons behind their disappointing IPL 2026 season so far.
Notably, Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2026 journey has been far from smooth, with the five-time champions finding themselves in deep trouble midway through the league stage. With just two wins from seven matches, MI are stuck near the bottom of the standings and are running out of time to turn things around.
Injuries, poor form, and repeated failures in key moments have hurt the side badly. Rohit Sharma’s hamstring injury further complicated matters, as the veteran opener missed the last three matches, all of which ended in defeats. While skipper Hardik Pandya has tried to hold things together, Mumbai have looked far from their dominant best.
Shaun Pollock questions MI’s trusted bowling core
Speaking on Cricbuzz, Pollock said Mumbai had entered the tournament expecting their experienced bowling trio to be match-winners, but things have gone in the opposite direction.
According to Pollock, three stars – Trent Boult, Shardul Thakur, and Deepak Chahar – were supposed to be the dependable options who would control games, especially in the Powerplay and death overs. Instead, their lack of impact has left MI exposed in crucial moments.
“They’ve been let down by their three key bowling options – Boult, Thakur, and Chahar. They would have considered them bankers pre-season. The 11 they are playing now is very far from the one they would have picked right after the auction. That’s probably been the biggest surprise,” said Pollock.
He explained that these were the players the franchise would have considered “bankers” before the season began, making their underwhelming performances even more surprising.
Pollock also noted that the current playing XI looks very different from what Mumbai would have ideally chosen immediately after the auction, showing how injuries and poor form have disrupted their plans. He further added that MI seem to have too many options, which has created confusion rather than clarity. He pointed out that squad depth should be a strength, but in Mumbai’s case, it has often led to uncertainty in selection.
“It feels like they have too many options. And it’s been the case the last four or five years. If they make the playoffs, they can kick into gear with all the international and playoff experience. But for that to happen, they have to win this match first. The complication comes in for them because of the strength they have. It’s why Rickleton hasn’t played after De Kock scored that hundred,” added the former Proteas skipper.
Heavy CSK defeat exposes deeper problems
Mumbai’s latest setback came in a crushing 103-run defeat against Chennai Super Kings, a result that highlighted major concerns in both batting and bowling.
Their Powerplay returns have been among the worst in the tournament, while the middle order has failed to build momentum consistently. Even Jasprit Bumrah, usually MI’s biggest weapon, endured an unusual lean patch early in the season before showing signs of recovery. The franchise also had to bring in Keshav Maharaj as a replacement for injured Mitchell Santner, adding another layer of instability to the squad.
What MI must do next to revive their campaign
To revive their campaign, Mumbai must now approach every remaining game like a knockout fixture. Another defeat could almost shut the door on their playoff hopes. Rohit’s possible return as an Impact Player could provide a major boost to the top order. His presence alone could help settle a batting unit that has lacked confidence.
There is also growing support for using Jasprit Bumrah with the new ball more often. That strategy worked well against Gujarat Titans when he struck on the very first delivery, giving MI early momentum. Meanwhile, Hardik remains under pressure both as captain and as an all-rounder. His form with the bat and some questionable bowling decisions at the death have drawn criticism.
