Mumbai Indians owner Nita Ambani laments ‘disappointing season’, hints at review ahead of 2025 mega auction

Mumbai Indians owner Nita Ambani labelled her team’s performance in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) as “disappointing” and also hinted at a performance review taking place before the five-time champions turn their attention to the build-up towards the 2025 mega auction.

MI had begun Hardik Pandya’s maiden season as their captain with a hat-trick of defeats starting with a narrow six-run loss against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. They had briefly revived their hopes of mounting a comeback by winning three out of their next four matches, only to lose their next six of their next seven matches and become the first team eliminated from the playoffs race.

Mumbai eventually finished the season with just four wins in 14 matches, losing their last match of the season against Lucknow Super Giants at home on Friday. It was their second wooden-spoon finish in three seasons, resulting in a disappointing start to the ‘Hardik Pandya Era’.

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“Disappointing season for all of us. Things didn’t go the way we wanted them to, but I’m still a huge Mumbai Indians fan. Not just an owner. I think to wear the Mumbai Indians jersey is a huge honour and a privilege, and to be associated with Mumbai Indians, for me, is an honour and a privilege. I think, we will go back, review and think about it,” Ambani said in a locker room speech following their defeat against LSG at the Wankhede Stadium.

Ambani would later wish Rohit and Pandya, the former and current skipper respectively, as well as Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah good luck for the upcoming T20 World Cup, which takes placed in the USA and Caribbean next month.

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“To Rohit, Hardik, Surya (Suryakumar Yadav) and (Jasprit) Bumrah, I think, all Indians are cheering for you. We wish you all the best,” Ambani added.

Mrs. Nita Ambani talks to the team about the IPL season and wishes our boys all the very best for the upcoming T20 World Cup 🙌#MumbaiMeriJaan #MumbaiIndians | @ImRo45 | @hardikpandya7 | @surya_14kumar | @Jaspritbumrah93 pic.twitter.com/uCV2mzNVOw

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) May 19, 2024

MI had brought Pandya on board from Gujarat Titans after the all-rounder had led the Ahmedabad-based franchise to back-to-back finals, including the title on debut in 2022.

In a move that would stun the cricketing community, especially Mumbai Indians fans, Pandya would be announced their captain for the 17th season, bringing Rohit’s decade-long reign as skipper in which he captained the side to five titles to an abrupt end.

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Pandya’s popularity, however, would take a massive hit as a result of the franchise’s game-changing decision, as he would not only be subjected to incessant trolling on social media in the build-up to the season, but would also get booed by spectators — both at the Wankhede Stadium as well as away from home.

Rohit, on the other hand, didn’t exactly set the stage on fire with the bat, but managed to finish the season with 400-plus runs including a century in a losing cause against Chennai Super Kings. He had scored a sparkling 68 off 36 balls against LSG on Friday, and had received a standing ovation from MI supporters at Wankhede after his dismissal, with many believing the ‘Hitman’ had made his final appearance in MI’s iconic blue-and-gold kit.