Hand Back Captaincy to Rohit: Tiwary Slams Hardik After MI Loss

Former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary has sharply criticised Hardik Pandya’s leadership and demanded that Mumbai Indians hand back captaincy to Rohit Sharma after the team’s latest defeat in the IPL 2026 season. The five-time champions suffered their fourth consecutive loss, this time to Punjab Kings at the Wankhede Stadium, leaving fans and experts questioning the side’s direction.

Manoj Tiwary criticises Hardik Pandya’s leadership in the strongest terms yet, pointing to deeper issues that go beyond the current campaign. In an interview with Cricbuzz, the former batter said the lack of ownership was evident and that the team needed to address root causes stretching back to 2023.

MI’s Dismal IPL Campaign

Mumbai Indians began the season with a win over Kolkata Knight Riders but have since collapsed. The side sits ninth on the points table with just two points and a net run rate of minus 1.076. Hardik Pandya, who took over captaincy ahead of the season, admitted after the Punjab game that the team must take collective responsibility and improve quickly. Yet his words have done little to stem the growing criticism.

Tiwary Blasts Leadership Style

Tiwary did not hold back. “The captaincy is weak,” he stated, adding that Hardik was not leading the team proactively. He reminded everyone of Rohit Sharma’s successful years at the helm, during which Mumbai Indians lifted multiple trophies between 2015 and 2023. Tiwary argued that removing Rohit had done the franchise an injustice and that one poor season did not erase a proven track record.

Call to Reinstate Rohit

The former India player made a clear recommendation: Hardik should step aside and restore the captaincy to Rohit Sharma for the remainder of the season. “When you removed Rohit, you did an injustice,” Tiwary remarked. He believes this single move could help the side regain its winning momentum and steady the ship.

Tactical Errors in Match

Tiwary also picked apart specific decisions from the Punjab Kings clash. He questioned Hardik’s choice to promote himself up the order ahead of Sherfane Rutherford. Hardik scored 14 off 12 balls while Rutherford faced only five deliveries. “If Rutherford had played as many balls, he would have hit 3-4 sixes,” Tiwary observed. He felt the move reflected poor reading of the situation.

Bowling changes came under similar scrutiny. Tiwary wondered why Jasprit Bumrah was not given the new ball in the first over and instead bowled the second. He noted that Deepak Chahar struggled to swing the ball, contrasting it with what he called “outstanding captaincy” from Shreyas Iyer on the opposing side.

Jayawardene Defends Team Effort

Mumbai Indians’ head of cricket, Mahela Jayawardene, faced tough questions at the post-match press conference. He refused to single out Hardik Pandya. “I don’t think it’s just on Hardik; I think it’s on every one of us,” Jayawardene said. He added that the entire management and playing group shared the responsibility and that the team was playing good cricket but simply not executing as clinically as their opponents.

Growing Pressure on MI

The defeat has intensified calls for change. With the playoffs still a distant target, Mumbai Indians must find answers fast. The franchise’s proud history of five titles now feels distant as the side struggles for consistency under the new leadership.

Road Ahead for Five-Time Champs

As the IPL 2026 season enters a crucial phase, Mumbai Indians face a defining stretch. Whether the management listens to voices like Manoj Tiwary and considers handing back captaincy to Rohit Sharma will be closely watched. For now, the focus remains on immediate improvements if the team hopes to stay alive in the race for the playoffs.

MI vs KKR IPL 2026: Rohit’s Impact Player role, Bumrah’s return set for Wankhede clash

Match Opener Tonight

Mumbai Indians will lock horns with Kolkata Knight Riders in the second match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday. The toss is scheduled for 7 PM IST, with play beginning at 7:30 PM. All eyes will be on Rohit Sharma, who returns to T20 cricket after a year-long gap, as MI look to extend their dominant record over KKR.

Rohit’s Impact Role

The former MI captain is expected to feature as an ‘Impact Player’ this season, a role he played last year as well. Rohit has not featured in any T20 since the 2025 IPL, and his form remains a talking point. According to team sources, the management is likely to bring him in during the second innings, either to anchor the chase or add firepower while batting first.

Bumrah Back in Action

Jasprit Bumrah has rejoined the MI camp after a five-day fitness and workload management stint at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence. The star pacer is expected to lead the pace attack alongside Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, and Hardik Pandya. Bumrah’s availability is a massive boost for Mumbai, especially on a Wankhede track that offers early assistance to fast bowlers.

KKR’s Injury Woes

Kolkata Knight Riders, in contrast, head into the match with serious bowling concerns. Pacer Harshit Rana has been ruled out of the entire season. Matheesha Pathirana will only join mid-April after fitness clearance, while Mustafizur Rahman was released post the mini-auction. KKR’s batting, led by skipper Ajinkya Rahane and vice-captain Rinku Singh, looks solid, but the depleted pace attack could hurt them on Mumbai’s batting-friendly surface.

Head-to-Head Dominance

Mumbai Indians have won 24 of the 35 IPL meetings between the two sides. KKR have managed only 11 victories. The last time they met at Wankhede, MI chased down 117 runs in just 12.5 overs, winning by eight wickets. Young fast bowler Ashwani Kumar took four wickets for 24 runs, while Ryan Rickelton smashed an unbeaten 62 off 41 balls.

Pitch and Weather

The red-soil pitch at Wankhede Stadium is known for true bounce and high-scoring contests. Short boundaries make it a batter’s paradise, though pacers can get some movement under lights. Dew is a factor in night games, making chasing the preferred option. The weather in Mumbai on Saturday evening will be warm and slightly humid, with temperatures around 30°C. There is a 15% chance of rain, but winds at 23 km/h should offer some relief to spectators.

What Lies Ahead

For Mumbai Indians, Suryakumar Yadav – the T20 World Cup-winning captain – will be the batting mainstay after amassing 717 runs last season. Trent Boult topped the bowling charts with 22 wickets. For KKR, Varun Chakaravarthy (17 wickets in 2025) and new faces like Blessing Muzarabani and Navdeep Saini will need to step up. With both teams eyeing early momentum, the Wankhede crowd is in for a cracking contest. As per latest news updates, the toss could prove crucial, and Rohit Sharma’s impact – whether with bat or on field – may just tip the scales in MI’s favour.

India Reach T20 World Cup 2026 Final After Thrilling Win Over England; Dhoni’s Reaction and Samson’s Record Steal Spotlight

Team India delivered a thrilling performance to defeat England by 7 runs in the T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal at Wankhede Stadium, booking their place in the final for a record fourth time. The high-voltage match was packed with dramatic moments, stunning catches, and record-breaking performances that kept fans on the edge of their seats.

A humorous reaction from former captain MS Dhoni to his wife Sakshi’s celebration and a brilliant knock by Sanju Samson became some of the biggest talking points from the match.

India Reach T20 World Cup 2026 Final in Dramatic Fashion

With this victory, India reach T20 World Cup 2026 final, becoming the first team to appear in the tournament’s final four times. The Indian team previously played finals in 2007, 2014, and 2024.

The win also places India among a select group of teams to reach two consecutive T20 World Cup finals (2024 and 2026). Before this, only Pakistan (2007–2009) and Sri Lanka (2012–2014) had achieved this feat.

The semifinal clash turned out to be one of the most entertaining matches in T20 World Cup history, featuring explosive batting and spectacular fielding.

MS Dhoni’s Funny Reaction to Sakshi Goes Viral

One of the lighter moments of the game came when MS Dhoni, present in the stadium with Rohit Sharma, reacted to his wife Sakshi’s enthusiastic celebration.

During England’s innings, Jasprit Bumrah bowled a perfect yorker and fielded the ball himself. Sakshi jumped in excitement thinking it was a catch, but it wasn’t. Dhoni humorously gestured to calm her down, reminding her not to celebrate too early.

The moment quickly went viral on social media, with fans praising Dhoni’s calm and composed reaction — a trait that earned him the nickname “Captain Cool.”

Sanju Samson’s Explosive Knock Equals Kohli’s Record

While the crowd enjoyed Dhoni’s reaction, Sanju Samson’s record-breaking innings was the real highlight of the match.

Samson smashed 89 runs against England, becoming the Indian batsman with the highest score in a T20 World Cup knockout match. His innings equaled the record set by Virat Kohli, who scored an unbeaten 89 against West Indies in the 2016 semifinal.

Samson reached his half-century in just 26 balls, completing the milestone with a powerful six off Liam Dawson.

Key highlights of Samson’s innings included:

 Aggressive stroke play during the powerplay

 Multiple sixes over long-off and midwicket

 Calm batting under pressure in a knockout match

His innings proved crucial in helping India post a strong total.

Stunning Fielding Turns Match in India’s Favor

India’s fielding played a major role in securing the victory.

Two spectacular moments stood out:

 Axar Patel’s incredible backward-running catch to dismiss England captain Harry Brook early in the innings.

 A brilliant team effort between Axar Patel and Shivam Dube at the boundary, where Axar tossed the ball mid-air to Dube to complete a sensational catch.

These moments shifted momentum towards India at crucial stages of the match.

Record-Breaking Match Full of Boundaries

The semifinal also produced several historic records:

 34 sixes were hit by both teams combined — the most in a T20 World Cup match.

 A total of 73 boundaries (39 fours and 34 sixes) were struck in the game.

 India registered their second-highest T20 World Cup total.

The match is already being described by experts as one of the most entertaining knockout games in tournament history.

What’s Next for Team India?

With India reaching the T20 World Cup 2026 final, the team is now just one step away from lifting the trophy again. Fans and cricket experts believe the combination of aggressive batting, smart bowling, and sharp fielding makes India a strong contender for the title.

If the semifinal performance is any indication, the upcoming final promises to be another thrilling contest for cricket fans around the world.

With the first semifinal scheduled for March 4, followed by the second semifinal on March 5 and the grand finale on March 8, the race to secure seats is about to heat up.

But here is the twist: where these matches are played depends heavily on which teams make the cut—specifically, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Where Will the First Semifinal Be Played? It's Complicated

While the second semifinal is locked in at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on March 5, the venue for the first semifinal remains fluid. The ICC has announced two potential host cities: Colombo's R Premadasa Stadium or Kolkata's iconic Eden Gardens.

The final call will be made based on the qualifying teams. Here is how it breaks down:

- If Pakistan qualifies: They will play the first semifinal in Colombo on March 4.

- If Pakistan fails to qualify but Sri Lanka makes it (and is not scheduled to face India), the match stays in Colombo.

- If neither condition is met, or if the fixture becomes India vs. Sri Lanka, the first semifinal shifts to Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

This conditional hosting is unprecedented and adds a layer of suspense for fans planning to travel or book accommodations.

Final Venue Also on the Line

The March 8 final is similarly contingent on Pakistan's performance. If the Men in Green reach the title clash, Colombo will host the final. If they bow out earlier, the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad—the world's largest cricket stadium—will stage the championship match.

For fans eyeing the final, this means holding off on travel plans until the semifinal results are in.

Full Refund Guarantee: ICC Protects Fans from Venue Changes

Recognizing the logistical headache this could cause, the ICC has rolled out a fan-first refund policy. If you purchase a ticket for a specific venue and the match is later relocated due to team qualification rules, you will receive a full refund.

This ensures that no fan is left out of pocket if plans change at the last minute. It also encourages early booking despite the uncertainty, as tickets are expected to sell out fast.

How to Book Tickets

Tickets for all three knockout matches are available exclusively through the official portal: tickets.t20worldcup.com.

Categories range from general admission to premium seating, and with global cricket fans vying for limited seats, early booking is strongly advised.

Why This Matters Now

With the tournament entering its business end, the T20 World Cup knockout tickets launch marks the final countdown. The conditional venue rules—directly tied to Pakistan and Sri Lanka's performance—add a geopolitical and strategic layer rarely seen in cricket scheduling.

For fans in India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, this is not just about watching a match; it is about being in the right city at the right time. And thanks to the refund policy, the risk of booking early is now virtually zero.

Final Takeaway: Book your tickets from tonight. Cheer for your team. And keep an eye on the Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka results—they might just decide where you end up watching the action live.