The Hardik Pandya–Mumbai Indians buzz may have just taken another interesting twist. Rumors of tension between the two were already making rounds, and now Hardik’s latest Instagram stories have added more fuel to the chatter.
The MI skipper shared clips of himself training in the nets despite being out from playing since Mumbai’s defeat to CSK on May 2. Hardik also missed the team’s initial trip to Dharamshala for the Punjab Kings clash after sitting out the last two matches with back spasms. But judging by his recent practice sessions, fans are starting to wonder how serious the injury really is.
🔴 IS HARDIK PANDYA DROP FROM MUMBAI INDIANS TEAM? 🤯
– Hardik latest insta Story in which he practice & fully fit, but report say Hardik suffer from back injury 🙄
First Unfollow Suryakumar & Tilak Verma now this 🤦
SOMETHING BIG HAPPEN WITH HARDIK IN MI TEAM 🤨 pic.twitter.com/pUOgppuhZI
— Sam (@Cricsam01) May 13, 2026
Mumbai Indians’ Coach Gives an Update on Hardik Pandya
Following Mumbai Indians’ loss to RCB, coach Mahela Jayawardene opened up on Hardik Pandya’s fitness situation. The MI skipper, who has been sidelined with back spasms, was still undergoing treatment, with the franchise choosing to stay cautious over his comeback. Jayawardene explained that Hardik had not been able to train in recent days, which is why the team avoided taking any unnecessary chances with the all-rounder.
“Yeah. Hardik had a back issue which we were trying to rectify, but it hasn’t settled in yet. So the medical guys were working on him. He couldn’t train the last few days, so we didn’t want to take a risk without knowing exactly. So we’ll see. It’s on a day-to-day basis. See how he feels.”
“And then we’ll make a decision on that,” said Jayawardene.
Inside The Growing Speculation Around Hardik And MI
Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2026 campaign has already come to an end, with the five-time champions managing just six points from 11 matches. Amid the disappointing season, fresh rumours around Hardik Pandya and the franchise picked up after fans noticed that MI had briefly disappeared from the all-rounder’s Instagram following list following the defeat to RCB that officially ended their playoff hopes.
Screenshots of the apparent unfollow quickly spread online, especially given the scrutiny surrounding Hardik’s captaincy stint since his return to Mumbai. However, within minutes, MI reappeared on his profile, leaving fans divided over whether it was a glitch, an accidental unfollow, or frustration after another tough loss. Neither Hardik nor the franchise has addressed the situation publicly.
Despite the online chatter, Hardik’s recent training clips suggest he remains focused on returning to action. Injuries have disrupted his season, while MI’s struggles on the field have only added fuel to the fallout speculation.
