Mumbai Indians done and dusted: Three changes MI must make if they want to revive their fortunes in 2027

Mumbai Indians (MI) were the kings of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Between 2013 to 2020, they won five titles to become the most successful team in the competition. In fact, at times in their golden run, they were considered the best T20 team ever assembled.

Six years later, the glory days are long gone and the gloomy days are refusing to leave.

For the second time in the last three seasons, MI are staring at a bottom-place finish. Experts are perplexed as to how a team consisting of several top Indian players has won only three out of their 11 matches this season.

They have also not been unlucky. Most of these defeats have been comprehensive and two of their three wins have been against bottom-half teams. The defeat to RCB on Sunday came as a final blow to their playoff hopes for this year.

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With eyes on the next season, MI will have to make some big changes if they want to be at least a top-four contender in 2027. Here are three major calls that MI need to take to revive their fortunes.

Hardik's time is over

Ahead of the 2024 season, MI traded Hardik Pandya back into their side from Gujarat Titans. Rohit Sharma, under whom the team had won five titles, was sacked as captain and Hardik was handed over the reins. Three years later, it can be safely assumed that the decision has backfired. MI finished at the bottom in 2024, made it to the playoffs in 2025 and now they are again headed towards a wooden spoon finish.

Hardik has consistently underperformed, especially with the bat, since his return to MI and there are rumours that all might not be well between him and MI management. Despite five trophies, MI had sacked Rohit after two consecutive seasons without playoffs. They will have to apply the same standards for Hardik as well. Time has run out for Hardik as MI captain and a tough call needs to be taken.

MI have also made repeated tactical blunders. Two times in this season now, the bowler that they brought on as Impact Player has not been used. The bowling changes have been all over the place as well. The man in charge will have to take responsibility.

Where are the scouts?

MI were the leaders when it came to scouting lesser-known talents. Talents like Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and his brother Krunal were unearthed by their scout network and two of them became India regulars while the other has been in and out of the international set-up. However, for the past few years, MI's scouting has not quite worked while other teams have not just caught up but even surpassed them.

They have struggled with the ball for the past few years, but have neither found a good Indian pacer nor a spinner to solve those issues. For MI, top-notch scouting is even more crucial because they have to spend a lot of their purse on big-budget retentions. Because they have not been able to find good players for less money, the team construction has looked bizarre at times. This needs to change immediately if they need to revive their glory days.

Stability needed

MI were known to be a solid unit which backed their players instead of chopping and changing much. However, in the years where results have not fallen in place, MI have committed a lot of harakiri with their team. Ryan Rickelton is the top-scorer of the team but was dropped midway through the season for Quinton de Kock. Similarly, neither Trent Boult nor Corbin Bosch has gotten an extended run despite being proven match-winners.

The domestic names have also not been backed fully, getting a few games here and there. This means that either MI's strategy is cluttered or they do not trust these players. Which again raises the question over the scouting process.

Some tough calls have to be taken by MI, especially because a lot of their star players are ageing.

Will they jump the gun in this cycle, or will they wait a bit more is the question, but change has to be the ultimate constant in this league.