Hardik Pandya's Instagram Activity Sparks Speculation After MI's IPL Exit

Pandya's Unfollow Incident Raises Eyebrows

Following a disappointing exit from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, the Mumbai Indians (MI) faced another unexpected twist when their captain, Hardik Pandya, reportedly unfollowed the team's official Instagram account.

After a heartbreaking two-wicket loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Raipur on Sunday evening, fans noticed that MI was absent from Pandya's list of followed accounts. However, shortly thereafter, it was revealed that the number of accounts he followed had returned to 151, with MI back on the list.

This incident quickly gained traction on social media, with many fans speculating that the unfollowing was linked to rumors of internal strife within the franchise following another lackluster IPL season. Some even suggested that Pandya had unfollowed several teammates.

Whether this change was a temporary glitch or an intentional act, it became a hot topic due to the ongoing scrutiny surrounding Pandya's leadership role at MI. His captaincy has been a point of contention among fans, and any misstep involving the team has drawn considerable online attention.

Pandya has been sidelined from the MI lineup due to a 'back spasm,' with Suryakumar Yadav stepping in as captain during his absence. MI's head coach, Mahela Jayawardene, confirmed that Pandya is receiving treatment for his back issue.

“He (Pandya) has been dealing with a back problem that we are trying to address, but it hasn't improved yet. The medical team is closely monitoring him. He was unable to train in recent days, so we opted not to take any risks without a clear understanding of his condition. We will evaluate him on a daily basis and make decisions accordingly,” Jayawardene stated.