Skipper of Mumbai Indians, Hardik Pandya appeared distraught as his team failed to bag a victory for the third consecutive time in IPL 2026. Mumbai Indians succumbed to an 18-run defeat to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.
While chasing the daunting target of 241, Mumbai Indians failed to hold on to the increasing run-rate and while they lost by 18 runs. Royal Challengers Bengaluru earlier rode on the brilliance of Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, and Rajat Patidar all of whom scored half-centuries, registering a monumental total of 240/4.
Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton gave a perfect start for the Mumbai Indians, however, they failed to assert dominance and were completely shut down, finishing the chase at 222/5 with Sherfane Rutherford remaining unbeaten on a resilient 71.
While addressing his team along with head coach Mahela Jayawardene in the dressing room, Hardik was seen asking the team to stay united, and reflect upon the loss in order to improvise in the future.
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"Thinking from what MJ said, I think here there are two options we can do. One is go back in our rooms, go back into our cocoon spaces and try to figure it out. I know it's tough losing but let's learn... Let's not get disappeared. But let's learn. It's always winning and learning, never losing. So let's do that. That's something which tonight after the game, once we go back to hotel, let's have a meal together, we'll talk about cricket. We'll talk about something else but we'll figure it out,"
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Hardik Accepts that Team is lacking a much-needed change
While speaking post-match, Hardik accepted the fact that team has been lacking control in the game in recent few matches and has been playing catch-up rather than taking the front seat.
I thought we gave way too many runs away in this. I thought that (target of 241) was always going to be playing catch up. I thought the last few games, as a bowling unit or a batting unit as well, we've been kind of catching up in the game rather than driving it. We need to have a long, hard look at ourselves and see what we can do best and how we can sort of gain that momentum and that click.
We've got a couple of days off here then we go again. (bat second the way to go here?) I think honestly now so many things need to be rethink. It's definitely not working. There's been games we've won the toss, but probably there are other options that we need to look for in terms of a batting unit or in terms of a bowling unit. In terms of the type of wicket it's playing, the if we can bat as well then it will be excellent. We still have to play the game, we still have to bat and we still have to bowl.
MI's campaign now hinges on an imminent revival, as they endure their third straight defeat and the tournament progresses at pace.
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