After a heavy defeat to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2026 on April 23, Mumbai Indians (MI) are set to undertake a strong review, as hinted by captain Hardik Pandya. MI’s 103-run defeat to CSK highlighted some serious issues in the team, and Aakash Chopra questioned the form of Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya.
Suryakumar Yadav is known for his attacking style, but this season, the India T20I captain has struggled to make an impact for Mumbai Indians. In seven innings, the right-handed batsman has scored 157 runs at a poor average of just over 22 and a strike rate of around 143 with just one half-century.
Aakash Chopra raised questions on the form of Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya in IPL 2026.
And the most surprising thing is that Suryakumar has hit only four sixes so far. These numbers don’t match his potential. Even when Mumbai Indians were chasing a mammoth target of 208 runs, Suryakumar scored 35 runs in 30 balls. He failed to put pressure on CSK bowlers.
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He also got out while trying to attack a spinner and this has now become a trend this season. And Chopra feels that Suryakumar’s disappointing performance with the bat and repeated mistakes are not helping the reigning five-time champions at all in IPL 2026.
Aakash Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel, “Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya have not scored any runs at all. Suryakumar Yadav has played seven innings. He has been out three times sweeping the spinners.”
Aakash Chopra questions Hardik Pandya’s decisions against CSK
At the same time, MI captain Hardik Pandya is also struggling badly in the tournament. The Indian all-rounder has scored just 97 runs in six matches at an average of less than 20 and a strike rate of just 140. He was also a flop with the ball, taking only three wickets at an economy rate of around 13.
Even against CSK, Hardik gave 38 runs in just two overs and did not bowl again after that. And the commentator questioned the MI captain’s decision to hand the ball to young bowler Krish Bhagat for the final over against CSK at the Wankhede Stadium.
Chopra said, “Hardik, why didn’t you bowl the last over? I understand you were hit and you gave 38 runs in two overs, but Krish Bhagat also gave 15 runs in the over you bowled. It was only his second match. You made him bowl the 20th over. He gave 16 runs, but that’s not the point. The point is that it was a wrong choice. The captain has to take some responsibility, which was disappointing.”
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Team will not work with three people: Aakash Chopra
The former Indian batsman has pointed out that the main problem of MI is that their big players like Suryakumar and Hardik are not performing, making it very difficult for others to cover them and the pressure is increasing, and they are failing to win matches this season.
Chopra said, “Captain Hardik Pandya has scored 97 runs in six matches. His strike rate is 141 and his top score is 40. He has taken only three wickets and his economy is around 13. This cannot be Hardik Pandya’s performance. If none of them score runs, forget about Tilak Verma, Quinton de Kock or Naman Dheer scoring runs. A team with three people does not work. Will do.”
