Rayudu Advises Hardik Pandya to Quit IPL Captaincy

Former India batter Ambati Rayudu has urged Hardik Pandya to give up IPL captaincy and focus on enjoying his cricket ahead of the 2027 season. With Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings reportedly discussing a potential trade involving Hardik and India fast bowler Arshdeep Singh, Rayudu believes the all-rounder should prioritise his performances and mental well-being rather than immediately taking on leadership responsibilities at a new franchise.

According to the reported trade discussions, Punjab Kings have emerged as a leading contender to sign Hardik, although an agreement has not yet been finalised. Shreyas Iyer is expected to continue as PBKS captain, meaning Hardik could join the franchise as a player rather than as its leader.

Rayudu believes such an arrangement could benefit the 32-year-old. He wants Hardik to settle into a new environment, understand the franchise’s culture and gradually rebuild his confidence without the additional pressure of captaincy.

“If I am in Hardik’s shoes, I would want to go to a team where I would enjoy my cricket, in a place where I would be in a good mental space, and not put too much on my plate right away. Ease into the franchise, learn the culture of the franchise and then get onto the leadership circle, and eventually take up the mantle if he wants it. Right now, I think he needs to go out there and play good cricket,” Rayudu said.

Rayudu also believes Hardik should not continue as Mumbai Indians captain if he remains with the five-time IPL champions. The all-rounder returned to MI from Gujarat Titans ahead of IPL 2024 and was immediately appointed captain, replacing Rohit Sharma. However, his three-season stint in charge has been challenging, with Mumbai failing to reach the playoffs in two of those campaigns.

Ambati Rayudu wants Hardik Pandya to step away from MI captaincy

Hardik’s appointment as Mumbai Indians captain in 2024 attracted considerable attention, particularly because he replaced Rohit Sharma, who had led the franchise to five IPL titles. The transition brought additional scrutiny, and Rayudu believes the experience may have affected Hardik’s comfort within the team environment.

“I think in Mumbai, he felt he was cornered. Once you feel you are cornered, you are always looking over your shoulders. Once that happens in the dressing room, you would tend to come out in ways you wouldn’t want to,” Rayudu said.

The former India batter did not place the responsibility for everything that went wrong entirely on Hardik. Instead, he suggested that several factors contributed to the difficult period and that a change in role could help the all-rounder move forward.

“A lot of things didn’t go well for Hardik. I don’t know if it’s Hardik’s fault or someone else’s fault. From now on, if he wants to stay in MI, I don’t think he should be the captain. He should just play as a player, enjoy his game and try and win matches for MI.”

Rayudu maintained the same position even if Hardik moves away from Mumbai. He believes the all-rounder should spend at least one season without captaincy duties before considering a return to leadership.

“But if he goes out, definitely not the captain. At least, for one season. I just don’t want him to be captain,” he added.

Rayudu’s comments come at a time when Hardik’s future has become a major talking point ahead of the IPL 2027 retention and trade decisions. If the reported move to Punjab materialises, the franchise could offer him a different role, with Iyer expected to remain in charge.

Rayudu questions whether Mumbai Indians will release Hardik

Although Rayudu supports a change in Hardik’s role, he is not certain that Mumbai Indians will agree to part ways with the all-rounder. He pointed out that Hardik remains a valuable player because of his ability to contribute with both bat and ball.

Mumbai had previously allowed Hardik to leave for Gujarat Titans, where he became captain and guided the franchise to the IPL title in 2022. He subsequently returned to MI ahead of the 2024 season, making another potential departure a significant decision for the franchise.

“I am not sure if MI would want to let go of a talent like that. Even at the last minute, they must be thinking really, really hard, saying, ‘If we let go of him, can we get someone of that quality again?’ They have already done that once in the past. He went to GT, won a title and then came back to MI,” Rayudu said.

Hardik’s all-round abilities make him an important asset in T20 cricket. He can provide power in the middle order, contribute crucial overs with the ball and offer experience in high-pressure situations. Mumbai will therefore have to weigh his value as a player against the possibility of restructuring their leadership group.

The reported discussions with Punjab Kings could give both franchises an opportunity to reassess their squad combinations. However, until the deal is officially confirmed, Hardik’s future destination remains uncertain.

Ricky Ponting could help Hardik Pandya at Punjab Kings

Rayudu also identified Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting as a potential influence who could help Hardik settle into a new environment. The former India batter believes the relationship between the two could make Punjab an attractive destination for the all-rounder.

Hardik has previously played under Ponting, and Rayudu suggested that the Australian coach’s familiarity with him could help restore his comfort and confidence. With Shreyas Iyer expected to continue as captain, Hardik would not need to take on immediate leadership responsibilities if he joined the franchise.

“He has actually played a lot of cricket under Ricky Ponting. Ponting loves him. That’s one franchise that he would love to go to, get his mental space right under Ponting,” Rayudu said.

Such a move could allow Hardik to concentrate on his all-round contributions while adapting to Punjab’s team culture. Rayudu’s suggestion is that the player should first focus on enjoying the game and producing strong performances before considering any leadership role in the future.

Hardik Pandya’s IPL numbers since returning to Mumbai Indians

Hardik’s second stint with Mumbai Indians has produced mixed results in terms of his individual performances. Since returning to the franchise in 2024, he has scored 646 runs in 39 matches at an average of approximately 22.3 and a strike rate of 148.8.

With the ball, he has taken 29 wickets during the same period. One of his notable performances came in IPL 2025, when he registered career-best bowling figures of 5/36.

His 2026 campaign was disrupted by back spasms, which forced him to miss three matches. The injury affected his availability during an important part of the season and added to the uncertainty surrounding his recent playing schedule.

Although his numbers show that he has continued to contribute in both departments, his overall impact has varied across seasons. A change in responsibilities could give him an opportunity to focus more consistently on his batting and bowling.

Hardik Pandya’s injury concerns and fitness update

Hardik’s fitness has become another important factor in discussions about his future and availability. After his IPL 2026 campaign was affected by back spasms, he suffered a quadriceps strain during rehabilitation, followed by a shin injury.

He has not played competitive cricket since his final IPL appearance on May 24 and remains at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, working towards a return to action. His recovery and match fitness will be important considerations as he looks to return to the Indian team and prepare for the next IPL season.

India captain Shubman Gill recently confirmed that Hardik would need to play domestic cricket before being considered for an international comeback. The requirement means the all-rounder will have to demonstrate his fitness and match readiness through competitive appearances before returning to international selection.

For now, Hardik faces two important priorities: completing his recovery and getting back to regular cricket. Rayudu believes that stepping away from captaincy, whether at Mumbai Indians or another franchise, could also help him concentrate on his performances.

IPL 2027 trade discussions put Hardik’s role in focus

The reported discussions between Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings have placed Hardik’s future among the major talking points ahead of IPL 2027. A potential exchange involving Arshdeep Singh could reshape the squads of both franchises, but the trade has not yet been officially confirmed.

For Punjab, Hardik could provide an experienced Indian all-rounder while continuing under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy. For Mumbai, any decision to release him would involve assessing how difficult it would be to replace his combination of batting, bowling and experience.

Rayudu’s advice is centred on giving Hardik time to rediscover his best cricket without the additional demands of leadership. He believes the all-rounder should focus on enjoying the game, settling into his environment and helping his team win matches.

Whether Hardik remains with Mumbai Indians or joins Punjab Kings, Rayudu has made his position clear: he wants the 32-year-old to spend at least one IPL season as a player rather than captain.