Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has shared his thoughts on the Mumbai Indians’ management following a poor showing in the Indian Premier League 2026. The iconic batter believes the franchise, which has won the championship five times, should consider giving younger players a chance in their remaining matches.
Mumbai Indians have had a tough season, securing only three wins out of 11 games and losing eight, leading to their elimination from the competition with three matches still remaining.
Ahead of their upcoming match against Punjab Kings, Gavaskar made an interesting suggestion to MI’s management. The two teams will face off in Match 58 of IPL 2026 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala.
“As a supporter of Mumbai Indians, now that they are out of playoff contention, I would like to see them try some younger players. It’s up to the management to decide who to leave out. They have some young talent in reserves who haven’t had a chance yet. Give them opportunities in the last three matches to see what they can do. This will help them for next season,” Sunil Gavaskar said on Star Sports ‘Cricket Live’.
Gavaskar also pointed out that Punjab Kings would be feeling the heat after losing four consecutive matches following a strong start to their season. This upcoming game against MI is crucial for the IPL 2025 finalists.
“Punjab Kings will be eager to turn things around. After losing four in a row, self-doubt creeps in, and you start contemplating changes in the playing XI or different strategies. Punjab really needs a win,” he added.
The Kings are currently in fourth place on the points table, with 13 points, and they need to win more matches to secure a spot in the playoffs.