Wasim Jaffer picks MI’s probable playing XII for IPL 2026; slots Hardik Pandya at No.4 and leaves out star all-rounder

Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer picked his probable playing XII for the Mumbai Indians (MI) ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. The five-time champions have a star-studded squad with a plethora of combinations possible based on the team’s needs.

Wasim Jaffer opined that both Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock can be considered as Rohit Sharma’s opening partner for the upcoming campaign. While naming ace batter Suryakumar Yadav in the crucial No.3 slot, the former batter promoted skipper Hardik Pandya to No.4, a position which he featured in only once in IPL 2025.

Wasim Jaffer’s combination had no place for the in-form England all-rounder Will Jacks, as he opted to include Sherfane Rutherford, Mitchell Santner, and Trent Boult as his remaining three overseas players.

“Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton/Quinton de Kock, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma, Sherfane Rutherford, Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Mayank Markande, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult,” Jaffer said on his YouTube channel.

Hardik Pandya sporadically featured at the no.4 slot during the seasons from 2017 to 2021. However, he cemented the spot while leading the Gujarat Titans (GT) in IPL 2022, leading to his most productive IPL campaign with the bat to date.

While he featured at No.4, a total of 19 times for GT in two seasons, he has only played in the position thrice since his return to MI.

“The ultimate dream is to win the IPL for the sixth time” – MI captain Hardik Pandya on expectations from 2026 season

Coming on the back of a historic T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with Team India, Hardik Pandya is back at the helm for the Mumbai Indians (MI). The all-rounder has the task of streamlining the franchise, who have been a tad inconsistent in recent times.

Since their iconic title triumph in 2020, MI have qualified for the playoffs twice, while finishing near the bottom of the points table on two occasions as well. They now head into the 2026 campaign with more or less the same outfit from the previous season, barring the additions of Quinton de Kock and Sherfane Rutherford.

“The ultimate dream is to win the IPL for the sixth time. At the same time, it’s about building a legacy. Mumbai Indians already have an incredible legacy, but I still remember when I was a new kid – the passion, the hard work, and how the team backed me and helped me grow,” Hardik Pandya said ahead of IPL 2026 (via Cricbuzz).

“Going forward, I want that culture to continue – where players step up, work hard and play the best kind of cricket. I want us to represent the best cricket Mumbai Indians have ever played, and the best cricket I’ve ever played. That’s the legacy I want to leave-for myself and for the franchise,” he added.

MI will kick-start their IPL 2026 with a clash against the Ajinkya Rahane-led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Wankhede Stadium, on Sunday, March 29.