Hardik Pandya averages 16.16 with the ball and strikes at 140.57 for MI this IPL, far below his 2026 T20I returns of 23.83 and 165.31.
In the current IPL season, Hardik has managed just 97 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 140.57 while taking three wickets from 15 overs. His T20I numbers for India this year show a stark contrast: 286 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 165.31 along with 13 wickets in 13 innings. Since 2024, Hardik has played 46 matches for India, scoring 940 runs at a strike rate over 155 and claiming 41 wickets at an economy rate of 8.65.
Since the start of 2026, Hardik has bowled 10 death overs for India in eight innings, taking five wickets while conceding runs at 9.7 per over. In the ongoing IPL, he has bowled only two death overs across six innings, taking one wicket while giving away 13 runs per over. Against CSK at Wankhede Stadium, he conceded 38 runs in two initial overs and then chose not to bowl at the death, instead handing the final over to Krish Bhagat despite Bhagat having leaked 15 runs earlier in the 16th over. Samson hit Bhagat for 16 more in the last over, pushing CSK’s total to 207 and securing a match-winning score.
During his Gujarat Titans captaincy in 2022 and 2023, Hardik scored 833 runs at nearly 38 average in 30 innings and took 11 wickets in 21 innings, leading the team to a title and runner-up finish. Since returning to MI, he has scored 537 runs from 31 innings at 20.65 average, though his strike rate improved from 133.50 to 150.40 after shifting to a finisher’s role. With the ball, he has become more frequent wicket-taker—18.4 balls per wicket compared to 30.2—but carries an economy rate of 10.7, among the highest in the IPL during this period.
Hardik delivered crucial moments for India recently, including a semi-final performance in the 2026 T20 World Cup where England needed 39 off 12, and he conceded just nine runs in the penultimate over while dismissing Sam Curran. In the 2024 T20 World Cup final, he held his nerve in the 20th over when South Africa required 16 runs to win. His comeback in December 2025 during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy saw him score an unbeaten 77 off 42 balls to guide Baroda to chase 223 against Punjab, followed by two Player-of-the-Match performances in India’s T20Is against South Africa.
MI currently sit in ninth place with two wins after seven games, and head coach Mahela Jayawardene refused to blame Hardik’s form alone for the team’s struggles. Jayawardene stated, "I don't think his form is a concern. He started well in the first few games, he bowled really well. I think overall as a unit we haven't been consistent. Overall bowling we haven't been very good, we haven't managed to pick early wickets, we haven't managed to control things in away conditions as well. It's an overall thing. It's not one individual, as a team we have to improve." Hardik has completed his full quota of four overs just once this season despite flashes of capability.
Hardik began the season with promise, contributing at the death with both bat and ball in a successful 221-run chase against Kolkata Knight Riders. Against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he hit a six off his first delivery en route to 40 runs off 22 balls. Yet, his role has been limited, and MI’s search for a settled XI may be contributing to the inconsistency surrounding him. Despite occasional standout performances, Hardik’s recent IPL returns remain puzzling as the franchise navigates a challenging campaign.