Mumbai Indians endured a forgettable IPL 2026, with the five-time champions battling dressing room turbulence throughout the season. The unrest in the dressing room isn’t new though. As TimesofIndia.com has reported earlier, the franchise has struggled ever since Hardik Pandya took over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma. But more than the unease, the steady flow of dressing room ‘leaks’ has frustrated key figures within the franchise. Even industry insiders are surprised by how events have unfolded in recent seasons and how consistently the sanctity of the dressing room has been compromised. “Differences exist in almost every dressing room, but the division and bitterness at Mumbai Indians have been unusually high since Hardik returned. It doesn’t take an expert to see what’s happening, but for a franchise like Mumbai (Indians), which has always valued its core group, the constant leaks are a major concern. It’s a strong word, but it’s the reality. That dressing room has seen legends, captaincy transitions, and more, but it has never been like this,” said a source tracking developments.Over the last three seasons, the leaks have only intensified, with sensitive information — discussions in team meetings and strategic discussions about key players – spreading quickly. Before the top brass maps out the way forward, the immediate focus could well be plugging these leaks. An approach similar to the ’emoji episode’ is likely, as Mumbai Indians wants to avoid more private matters becoming public.“These things don’t sit well with the management. A lot of public drama unfolded after some players posted emojis on social media, and it hasn’t stopped since. Whether it’s the visible divide in the dressing room, body language on the field, or the way they play, the issues are obvious. If players think they can take MI for a ride, they need to rethink that. The priorities clearly aren’t right. Players are taking too long to return to action, and everyone just seems to be marking attendance,” the source adds.Ever since Mumbai Indians fell out of playoff contention, questions around the leadership have been raised. But that alone hasn’t caused the franchise’s decline in recent seasons. Tough decisions are expected in the coming months once senior players return from their breaks and international commitments. Several issues are at play, but the dressing room leaks will be addressed first. It is understood that the management has identified the problem and is prepared to act firmly to restore the franchise’s glory days. Some tough conversations are expected with certain star players to bring the house back in order.
