NEW DELHI: Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya admitted his team is still “searching for answers” after another bruising loss in IPL 2026, this time suffering a seven-wicket defeat at the hands of Punjab Kings. The result left the five-time champions reeling after a fourth setback in just five league games and they slipped to ninth place in the points table.
Quinton de Kock set the tone for MI with an unbeaten 112, helping Mumbai post 195/6. However, Punjab Kings chased it down with ease, reaching 198/3 in only 16.3 overs. The win preserved PBKS’s unbeaten run and lifted them to the top of the standings, with nine points.
Pandya’s “drawing board” message after the setback
- After the defeat, Pandya acknowledged the seriousness of MI’s form and said he did not have much to add in the moment.
- He called for a reset, adding that the franchise needs to review where it is falling short—whether the issues are rooted in individuals, the collective effort, or planning.
- The MI skipper indicated that the team will work through the problems and decide what adjustments are required for the next challenge.
- He also suggested that future matches may bring “difficult calls,” while stressing that accountability has to be owned by the group.
Pandya further accepted that Punjab Kings looked better across key phases of the game, conceding that PBKS had outperformed MI in bowling, batting, and fielding on the day.
Punjab Kings’ calm control and captain Shreyas Iyer’s praise
Punjab captain Shreyas Iyer said he was pleased with how composed his side remained and how well they executed their plans. He described his team’s mindset as confident and optimistic, adding that the victory reflected their ability to stay focused throughout the match.
Iyer also pointed to the impact of opener Prabhsimran Singh, who played a decisive knock of an unbeaten 80 off 39 balls. In Iyer’s view, Singh’s performances have improved further this season, with the batter showing greater maturity “match by match.”
Prabhsimran, in turn, attributed his finishing to a calm approach—particularly after a slower start. He said he kept trusting himself, believing that taking a bit more time early would allow him to play his best cricket as the innings developed.
