Hardik Pandya should drop MI captaincy, focus on game: Rayudu
Synopsis
Ambati Rayudu has gone on record saying Hardik Pandya felt 'cornered' at Mumbai Indians — and that the solution is simple: take away the captaincy. Whether Pandya stays at MI or moves to Punjab Kings or CSK, Rayudu insists the armband should not follow him, at least for a season. It is a sharp, experience-backed verdict on one of Indian cricket's most debated leadership calls.
Key Takeaways
Ambati Rayudu says Hardik Pandya should relinquish the Mumbai Indians captaincy and focus purely on his performances.
Rayudu believes Pandya felt 'cornered' at MI, which negatively affected his approach inside the dressing room.
If Pandya moves, Rayudu identifies Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings as the most suitable destinations.
Rayudu explicitly advised against Pandya taking up captaincy at any new franchise for at least one season .
Rayudu flagged KKR as a particularly challenging leadership assignment, calling it 'not an easy team to captain right now'.
Former India batter Ambati Rayudu has said that Hardik Pandya should step away from the Mumbai Indians (MI) captaincy, arguing the all-rounder would rediscover his best cricket by concentrating solely on his performances rather than shouldering leadership duties. Rayudu made the remarks amid growing speculation over Pandya's future at the franchise ahead of the upcoming IPL season.
Rayudu's Read on Pandya's MI Stint
Rayudu reflected on what he perceived as a difficult and pressured environment for Pandya during his captaincy tenure at Mumbai Indians. The former batter suggested that feeling isolated within the dressing room had an adverse effect on the all-rounder's overall game and demeanour.
'In Mumbai, I just thought that Hardik felt as if he was cornered. And once you feel you're cornered, you're always looking over your shoulder. Once that happens in a dressing room, you tend to come out in ways that you wouldn't want to. A lot of things didn't go well for Hardik. It might be Hardik's fault as well as something else,' Rayudu said on Cricbuzz.
The Case for a Leadership Change at MI
Rayudu was clear that even if the 31-year-old all-rounder remains with Mumbai Indians, the franchise should appoint a separate captain and allow Pandya to operate purely as a match-winner. He believes stripping Pandya of the armband could free him from the pressures that have seemingly weighed on his play.
'From now on, if he wants to stay at MI, I don't think he should be the captain. He should just play his game, enjoy his time, and be a match-winner for MI. But if he goes out, definitely not a captain again, at least for one season,' Rayudu said.
Potential Destinations if Pandya Leaves MI
Rayudu also mapped out where Pandya could land if he does leave Mumbai Indians, singling out Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as the two franchises best suited to help him revive his cricketing form. He cautioned, however, that neither move should come with a captaincy tag attached.
'I think either Punjab or CSK, because these are the two teams he could go to, but he shouldn't be captain. He'll find a very good space there in terms of his cricket. But with KKR, there's so much on the plate that he needs to assess and take things forward because they need a captain. It's not an easy team to captain right now,' Rayudu said.
What This Means for the IPL Auction Landscape
Rayudu's remarks carry weight given his own experience across multiple IPL franchises, including both CSK and MI. His assessment reflects a broader debate in Indian cricket circles about whether a high-profile all-rounder like Pandya is best served by leadership responsibilities at this stage of his career. Notably, this is not the first time Pandya's captaincy has faced scrutiny — his return to MI as skipper was itself controversial, following his tenure leading Gujarat Titans to back-to-back finals. How the IPL franchises respond ahead of the auction will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike.
Point of View
Possibly exacerbated by the circumstances of Rohit Sharma's removal to accommodate Pandya's return. The deeper question mainstream coverage skips is whether any franchise can extract peak Pandya-the-cricketer while also asking him to manage a dressing room. His Gujarat Titans years were evidence that the role can elevate him; the MI chapter suggests context matters enormously. If the auction bears out Rayudu's recommended destinations, it will be a tacit acknowledgment that the MI captaincy experiment failed both parties.
NationPress
5 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Ambati Rayudu think Hardik Pandya should not remain Mumbai Indians captain?
Rayudu believes Pandya felt isolated and under pressure during his MI captaincy, which affected his performances and behaviour in the dressing room. He argues Pandya would be better off playing freely as a match-winning all-rounder, without the added burden of leadership.
Which IPL franchises has Rayudu suggested as suitable destinations for Hardik Pandya?
Rayudu named Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings as the two franchises where Pandya could find a supportive environment for his cricket. He ruled out an immediate captaincy role at either club, recommending at least one season as a regular player.
What did Rayudu say about Hardik Pandya and KKR?
Rayudu said KKR is 'not an easy team to captain right now' and that Pandya would need to carefully assess the situation before considering a leadership role there. He suggested the franchise's current complexity makes it a difficult assignment for someone in Pandya's position.
Has Hardik Pandya captained an IPL team before Mumbai Indians?
Yes, Pandya captained Gujarat Titans, leading them to back-to-back IPL finals before returning to Mumbai Indians as captain. His MI captaincy tenure has been widely scrutinised, with his return having coincided with the removal of Rohit Sharma from the leadership role.
What is Ambati Rayudu's cricketing background?
Ambati Rayudu is a former India international batter who played across multiple IPL franchises, most notably Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. His first-hand experience of franchise cricket lends authority to his assessment of Pandya's captaincy situation.
