Mumbai Indians’ disappointing IPL 2026 campaign came to a painful end after their dramatic two-wicket defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 10, officially knocking them out of the playoff race. The loss not only ended Mumbai’s hopes of qualifying but also highlighted several worrying issues that have troubled the five-time champions throughout the season.

From poor fielding and inconsistent batting to ineffective bowling performances, the Mumbai Indians struggled to build momentum during the tournament. More importantly, the side often looked short on confidence, something former India spinner Harbhajan Singh believes has become clear in the team’s body language on the field.

Speaking on JioStar after the defeat, Harbhajan Singh admitted he had never seen Mumbai Indians look this low on energy and belief during his long association with the franchise. “The body language of the Mumbai Indians, which also plays a big role, is something I have never seen like this before,” Harbhajan said.

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The former MI star, who spent nearly a decade with the franchise, recalled previous difficult seasons where the team still fought with intensity despite poor results. According to him, that fighting spirit appears to be missing in the current squad.

“I have been part of this team for nearly 10 years. Even when we were losing, like in the season where we lost five in a row, our body language was never flat; the will to fight back was always there. Right now, that confidence is missing,” he added. Harbhajan Singh  stressed that someone inside the dressing room now needs to take responsibility and rebuild the team’s belief.

“Somebody needs to lead the way and say, ‘Whatever has happened is in the past. How we change things from here will depend on how we react in the field,’” he said.

The former off-spinner also pointed to Mumbai’s heavy dependence on Jasprit Bumrah as another major concern. While Bumrah remains one of the world’s best fast bowlers, Harbhajan felt the rest of the attack has failed to provide consistent support this season.

“Jasprit Bumrah is the kind of bowler who can change a match at any moment. But relying too heavily on him is not the right thing to do,” Harbhajan observed. He added that experienced bowlers like Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar and Hardik Pandya all appeared low on confidence, creating additional pressure on Bumrah.

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Harbhajan Singh also highlighted Mumbai Indians’ lack of quality Indian spin options as one of the biggest weaknesses in the squad. “Spinners, too, are a concern. I think the biggest weakness of this side is the lack of quality local spinners,” he said. For Mumbai Indians, IPL 2026 has exposed deep structural issues that will likely force the franchise into serious reflection ahead of next season.