A veil of mystery surrounds the Suryakumar Yadav saga which has, suddenly, become quite intriguing. The follow-unfollow-refollow Mumbai Indians episode has become the talk of the town, and it may have something to do with the frustration and disappointment of being stripped of the India captaincy.
It has been noticed that he has deleted pictures related to Mumbai Indians and it has generated considerable buzz and traction in Indian cricket of late. He is seen following the Mumbai Indian franchise but not its skipper, Hardik Pandya. What exactly is happening with Suryakumar Yadav?
It may be a little premature to speculate about his India career, but with chief selector Ajit Agarkar hinting recently that Shreyas Iyer was appointed T20I captain with the 2028 Olympic Games and the next T20 World Cup in mind, Suryakumar's return to the national side looks increasingly difficult, particularly with so many performers waiting in the wings. His future with Mumbai Indians, however, appears secure for now. There is no immediate indication of the franchise releasing or trading him.
But there may be something brewing around Hardik Pandya, the Mumbai Indians captain. Even as speculation continues to mount over his future with MI, Cricbuzz understands there is a recognition within the franchise of the fact that a thorough introspection is required. "There is no panic," said a source tracking the developments. "The franchise will regroup and reflect on the season."
MI avoided the ignominy of finishing at the bottom with a better net run rate and as previously reported by this website, it was a season of despair for the five-time champions. The season was marked by three captains, including Suryakumar and Jasprit Bumrah, a record 24 players, and a host of questionable selection and tactical calls. At some stage, the franchise is expected to sit down with Hardik, who was brought in from Gujarat Titans three seasons ago amid considerable expectations. The side has not won an IPL title since 2020 and under Hardik, MI have managed a meager win percentage of just 38 per cent - 15 wins and 24 defeats in 39 matches since 2024.
With the season having just concluded, there is no immediate rush. However, it is understood that there will be a meeting between the franchise management and Hardik to discuss the way forward for both the team and the player. Any decision, sources said, will be taken in the interest of both parties. Whether that results in his retention, release or a trade will be decided at that stage. At present Hardik is preparing for the ODI series against Afghanistan and he will not be disturbed.
There has been speculation about a possible trade involving the allrounder, but no formal approach has been made by any franchise so far although quite a few teams confided with Cricbuzz that they are open to considering taking the 32-year-old all-rounder.