Virender Sehwag has delivered a blunt assessment of the Mumbai Indians’ struggles in IPL 2026, suggesting the five-time champions may have already accepted that a playoff spot is out of reach. However, he stressed that even in a difficult campaign, the team owes its fans performances worth remembering.

Led by Hardik Pandya, the Mumbai Indians have managed just two wins so far and are on the brink of elimination as they prepare to face the Lucknow Super Giants at Wankhede Stadium. A three-match losing streak, including heavy defeats to Chennai Super Kings, has only deepened their troubles. Even if MI win all their remaining fixtures, a 14-point finish may still not guarantee qualification.

What has hurt MI the most is its poor home record. After an opening win against the Kolkata Knight Riders, they have lost to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the Punjab Kings, the Sunrisers Hyderabad, and the CSK at Wankhede, prompting strong reactions from fans.

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“Even MI have thought that they can’t qualify for the playoffs this season,” Virender Sehwag said. “Sure, you can’t qualify, but you will have to leave some memories for the fans as well. At least lose after playing some good cricket, then it’s understandable.”

Adding to the criticism, Manoj Tiwary pointed out deeper issues within the squad. “There have been a lot of problems, in my opinion. The batting and bowling problems happen, but even the ground fielding doesn’t look good. The atmosphere in the dressing room also doesn’t seem right.”

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Individually, Pandya (146 runs, 4 wickets) and Suryakumar Yadav (186 runs) have struggled for consistency, while the absence of Rohit Sharma due to injury has further exposed the team’s imbalance. For a franchise used to success, IPL 2026 has turned into a season of tough lessons rather than title contention.