A viral image making the rounds on social media seemed like it was showing Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya in some kind of private chat with RCB head coach Andy Flower , and also mentor Dinesh Karthik. But the real story behind that picture is a bit more mixed up than it first looks , let’s zoom in. Talk about Pandya’s future kicked off after reports came in saying Mumbai Indians might remove him as captain following a tough IPL 2026 season where the side ended up ninth on the points table. Some reports went even further, they suggested that Hardik might be thinking about stepping down on his own. They blamed mental exhaustion, and that never ending pressure which is basically part and parcel of leading the franchise. Did Hardik get a Offer offer from RCB? Amid all those rumours, this photo, where Hardik Pandya is seated with Andy Flower and Dinesh Karthik, somehow started catching eyes online, like very fast. In the shot Hardik looked like he was paying close attention to what Karthik was explaining, or at least that’s how it seemed. Once the picture started going around on social media platforms, fans began making those connections, linking it to a possible move towards RCB. A lot of people figured Hardik might team up again with his elder brother Krunal Pandya, if he chose to accept some kind of trade proposal from the Bengaluru-based franchise. The chatter grew quickly, maybe even too quickly, for a claim like that. Hardik Pandya meeting with the RCB mentor Dinesh kartik.👀🤯- Very highly chance to Hardik Pandya in RCB 2027. pic.twitter.com/SYL5phZkWi — Cricket Central (@CricketCentrl) June 2, 2026 Yet the reality was, completely different. That viral photograph wasn’t real, and it had been stitched together using AI technology. Hardik Pandya did not meet Dinesh Karthik, Andy Flower, or any other RCB officials, despite what the image tried to suggest. A lot of fans were kind of misled because the AI created picture looked very realistic, like almost too real. And the fact that Hardik’s name was involved helped the whole thing get noticed everywhere online, fast. Now, even if Hardik, in some future moment, ends up exploring a trade to RCB, the franchise might not actually be interested in going for that kind of move. The main cause here is that RCB already have a solid and well balanced core that carried them to back-to-back IPL titles in 2025 and 2026. Plus, with Rajat Patidar doing well as captain, it feels like there’s not much urgency to bring in another leadership option such as Hardik. Additionally, reports indicate that Hardik Pandya and his brother Krunal Pandya don’t seem to have the same bond they once had, and that might, in turn, be a bit tricky for the dressing room vibe. This sort of setup can rattle the overall team harmony. So, it looks unlikely that RCB would mess with a winning formula when the franchise is in the midst of one of the best phases it has ever had, after spending almost two decades waiting on real, lasting success. Also Read | 5 Gujarat Titans Players Who Could Be Released Ahead of IPL 2027 What is wrong between Hardik Pandya and MI? Hardik Pandya’s issues, got worse after Mumbai Indians wrapped up IPL 2026 finishing in ninth. It’s being said that the people who own the franchise are unhappy with his leadership style, and they could push for him to hand back the captaincy before the 2027 season starts. Adding another twist to the buzz, separate sources claimed that Pandya was not too pleased with the effort levels shown by some senior players during matches. Meanwhile, fresh speculation is now floating around, that an experienced Mumbai Indians player has recommended Tilak Varma as a possible successor to Pandya. Even though the exact identity of that senior player still stays unclear, a lot of fans have been pointing toward Rohit Sharma as the most likely person. If that turns out to be correct, then this kind of suggestion would mean Mumbai Indians are aiming for a long-term leadership plan, rather than switching to another well-known veteran.