Mumbai Indians batting coach Kieron Pollard admitted IPL 2026 was disappointing but ruled out taking emotional decisions regarding a possible squad overhaul after MI’s early exit.
Mumbai Indians signed off from IPL 2026 on a disappointing note after suffering a 30-run defeat against Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium. The loss officially sealed a frustrating campaign for the five-time champions, who eventually finished ninth on the points table.
The match reflected Mumbai’s struggles throughout the season. Despite reducing Rajasthan Royals to 119/5 during the first innings, MI failed to control the death overs as RR recovered strongly to post 205/8.
In reply, Suryakumar Yadav, Will Jacks and captain Hardik Pandya attempted to revive the chase with aggressive knocks. However, another batting collapse hurt Mumbai badly as they finished on 175/9.
Following the defeat, batting coach Kieron Pollard admitted the season had been far below expectations for both the franchise and its supporters.
“To be honest, at the end of the season, you know, what if, if this had happened, if we had done this, if we had done that, if we had played this one, if we had… It’s a bit of that. And, you know, overall, it has been disappointing for all of us,” said Pollard.
“You know, as a Mumbai Indians team, I’m sure the fans and everyone would have felt the same. And there’s no hiding, you know, from that.”
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Kieron Pollard Refuses To Rush Squad Rebuild Decision
After Mumbai’s poor season, discussions have already started around whether the franchise should make massive changes ahead of IPL 2027.
Senior players like Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya struggled to consistently dominate matches this season, which increased speculation around a potential squad rebuild.
However, Pollard made it clear that the management would not take impulsive calls immediately after the campaign ended.
“Again, that’s where better decision-making is going to come about. If you sit here right now and say you need to do this, you need to do this, you need to do that, I think that would be irresponsible from a management perspective,” he said.
Pollard stressed that every decision would be evaluated calmly after reviewing the season in detail rather than reacting emotionally to the disappointing finish.
Pollard Defends MI’s Middle Order Despite Criticism
One of Mumbai Indians’ biggest concerns throughout IPL 2026 was the inconsistency in the middle order. Despite possessing several experienced names, MI repeatedly failed to finish games strongly under pressure.
Still, Pollard rejected claims that the franchise lacked quality batting options in the middle overs. He pointed towards players like Quinton de Kock, Sherfane Rutherford and Will Jacks as capable performers within the squad setup.
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The former West Indies captain believes the team has enough experience and firepower, but execution and consistency remained major issues during crucial stages of the tournament.
Mumbai Indians entered IPL 2026 with high expectations after assembling a star-studded squad, but injuries, inconsistency and repeated collapses prevented them from building momentum. With the season now over, all eyes will be on whether the franchise decides to continue with its current core or make bold changes before IPL 2027.
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