Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya said his side must look inward and regain momentum after being beaten by Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a straight contest on Sunday. He pointed out that chasing the game instead of setting the tempo has become a recurring problem, and it is hurting their progress in the season.
After MI’s third defeat, Pandya calls for a reset
- MI were chasing a challenging target of 240 for 4, powered by half-centuries from Phil Salt, Virat Kohli and captain Rajat Patidar.
- Despite Sherfane Rutherford’s explosive knock, Mumbai managed 222 for 5, falling short of the total.
- Rutherford finished unbeaten on 71 off 31 deliveries, but it was not enough to push MI over the line.
- Pandya admitted MI conceded too many runs and that the chasing role they took on was always going to be difficult.
- He noted that in their recent matches, both the bowling unit and the batting group have often been responding from behind rather than controlling the match from the front.
- With this loss marking MI’s third defeat of the campaign, the franchise slipped to eighth in the points table.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru, meanwhile, strengthened their league standing by staying third on the table, winning three of their first four matches.
Speaking further, Pandya said the current plans are not delivering results and that an urgent rethink is required across departments. He highlighted that MI have a couple of days away from action, which will be used to evaluate different avenues for both batting and bowling.
He also stressed that improvement needs to come with specific emphasis on the powerplay overs. Pandya argued that if MI can bat and bowl well on the day—regardless of what the toss brings—then the team can return to winning ways. He said the group is actively discussing how to secure momentum early, adding that both their batting and bowling approaches in the powerplay have tended to revolve around catching up rather than establishing control.
Pandya further explained that the upcoming game will be used to test options based on what the team needs most. He said Rutherford’s innings gave MI the flexibility to consider changes to the lineup, because of the cushion and confidence that comes from his batting impact.
“When we got him, it was always exciting for us. We always knew the kind of potential and the kind of power he has,” Pandya said, adding that the way Rutherford batted allows MI to adjust if required.
Patidar credits Kohli and Salt’s start, backs pace on this surface
RCB captain Rajat Patidar said the way Kohli and Salt struck at the top of the order placed the team in a strong position from the beginning. He described his own cameo and Tim David’s involvement as part of a collective effort that built on that early momentum.
Patidar also addressed his preferences for bowling styles, clarifying that while people may think he enjoys spin, he actually prefers pace. He said that playing fast bowling on this particular pitch is a positive advantage for the team, describing it as a good wicket for pace bowlers.
