3 min learnUp to date: Apr 13, 2026 09:10 AM IST
Mumbai Indians’ detached begin to the IPL 2026 season with three successive defeats, together with a second straight loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru on the Wankhede Stadium after a spot of 10 years, has left captain Hardik Pandya scrambling for solutions.
After getting thumped by Rajasthan Royals in an 11-over contest in Guwahati, MI’s bowlers got here underneath the scanner but once more on Sunday night time after defending champions RCB hammered a colossal 240 for 4, their highest complete on the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Mumbai’s chase was worsened after an harm compelled Rohit Sharma to retire damage early on, whereas Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma didn’t up the scoring charges. Regardless of a late blitz from Sherfane Rutherford and skipper Hardik, Mumbai fell quick by 18 runs, which means they’ve now misplaced three in succession beginning with a defeat to Delhi Capitals away from residence.
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“I feel that was at all times going to be catch-up. I feel it’s been the final couple of video games as a bowling unit and even as a batting unit, we’ve been fairly catching as much as the sport reasonably than main the sport. Actually need to mirror, actually need to see what finest we are able to do and the way we are able to get that momentum and that click on which we require,” Pandya stated after the defeat, their third in a row.
Regardless of profitable the toss and opting to subject, the MI bowlers had been put underneath super strain, prompting Hardik to rethink their total staff technique throughout all departments.
“To be very trustworthy, now loads of issues must be rethought. Positively, it’s not working. A few video games, we’ve received the toss, however possibly we have to see what the opposite choices are, in addition to the batting group or bowling group that we are able to have. We nonetheless have to bat nicely, we nonetheless have to bowl nicely, regardless of the toss,” admitted Hardik.
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MI’s hopes had been stored afloat by affect sub Rutherford, who was traded in from the Gujarat Titans previous to the season. Rutherford smoked 9 sixes throughout his unbeaten 31-ball 71, serving to MI to cut back the margin of defeat in the long run, receiving appreciation from the skipper.
“Once we acquired Rutherford, it was at all times thrilling for us. We at all times knew the form of potential and the form of energy he has and the way in which he batted, it simply provides us additional cushion and on the identical time confidence, if we wish to make some adjustments or we wish to see what this staff requires, we are able to undoubtedly do it due to the way in which he’s batting,” stated Pandya.