Mumbai’s season lost at sea

Mumbai Indians’ 2026 campaign unfolded as a tale of two contrasting nights at the Wankhede. Their opener on March 29 brought rare optimism: a fearless chase of 220 against Kolkata Knight Riders ended a 13‑year streak of first‑match defeats, sparking celebrations that even drew franchise owners onto the field. Analysts quickly suggested this might finally be Mumbai’s year. By May 24, however, the atmosphere had shifted dramatically.

Despite removing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi early, they fell to Rajasthan Royals and skipped the traditional lap of honour, a sign of a team drained by inconsistency. Three captains, twenty‑four players, questionable selections and ten losses left Mumbai adrift, highlighted by their failure to defend 243 against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Leadership uncertainty dominated the final weeks, with talk of a captaincy change and potential trades. Amid the disappointment, Tilak Varma stood out, scoring 359 runs and producing a superb century in Ahmedabad, offering rare stability in a turbulent season.