Mumbai Indians have been eliminated from the IPL 2026 playoff race, marking the fourth time in six seasons that the franchise has failed to reach the postseason. Their exit was confirmed on Sunday after a two-wicket defeat at the hands of defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, with Krunal Pandya’s determined 73 and a match-turning spell from Bhuvneshwar Kumar helping RCB edge home in a tense finish.
Key takeaways
- MI were officially knocked out of the IPL 2026 playoffs race after losing by two wickets to RCB on Sunday.
- RCB’s chase moved them to first place on the points table with 14 points from 11 matches.
- Krunal Pandya scored 73 for MI, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar delivered an all-round impact with figures of 4/23 and 7 not out.
- RCB completed the target of 167/8 against MI’s 166/7, finishing the game with two runs needed off the last ball.
- Harbhajan Singh, speaking about MI’s campaign, said the team’s confidence and body language appeared different from past setbacks.
RCB’s narrow chase seals MI’s elimination
In a low-scoring, stop-start contest where momentum kept shifting, Royal Challengers Bengaluru managed to seize the crucial moments at the end. RCB successfully defended the pressure of a close finish by getting two runs off the final delivery, completing the chase in a match that swung repeatedly between both sides.
Defending champions RCB needed 15 runs in the last over led by Raj Bawa. They found the boundaries at the right time, including a six from Bhuvneshwar, to keep the required run-rate under control and force the win. At the same time, MI’s resistance was not without fight—Romario Shepherd was dismissed for 4, ending the final recognised partnership option for the chase.
MI had set a target of 167/8 in reply to their own total of 166/7. Even after slipping to 39 for three, RCB continued to grind, ensuring that the late over was played with the equation firmly in their favour. Ultimately, their finishing strength proved decisive as the match concluded with RCB reaching the target by two wickets.
Harbhajan points to confidence issues within MI
After the loss, Harbhajan Singh—who captained Mumbai Indians in 30 matches—commented on what he saw inside the team. He said the body language of MI was something he had not witnessed at such a level before, suggesting that the typical fighting spirit was missing.
Harbhajan also reflected on earlier seasons when MI had suffered heavy setbacks. He noted that even in years where the franchise endured a rough run—such as a period when they lost five matches in a row—the team’s body language had never appeared as flat as it does in the present moment. In his view, the will to respond during matches had always been present, but confidence is currently not showing in the same way.
He further argued that someone within the squad needs to take ownership of the response from here, emphasising leadership and accountability on the field. The former captain said the process should begin with one person stepping up, setting the tone, and guiding the team forward by ensuring reactions in-game become sharper and more positive.
On the bowling front, Harbhajan suggested that several MI pacers and all-round options were not operating with the same assurance as before. He specifically referenced bowlers such as Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar and Hardik Pandya, saying they all appeared low on confidence, and added that relying too heavily on Jasprit Bumrah alone would not be the right approach.
Harbhajan did acknowledge Bumrah’s match-changing ability, stating that he is the type of bowler who can swing a game at any moment. However, he insisted that MI need greater belief and consistency from the rest of their attack rather than expecting one bowler to carry the pressure every time.
