Mumbai Indians assistant coach Paras Mhambrey made it clear he won’t single out fast bowler Deepak Chahar for his side’s loss to Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2026 IPL match on Wednesday night. Instead of dwelling on fielding errors, Mhambrey pointed to the unpredictable nature of high-speed T20 cricket, where moments can swing quickly either way.
Key fielding moments
- Deepak Chahar was set up to take a Rovman Powell catch in the 10th over while bowling from deep fine leg.
- The ball dropped between Chahar and Robin Minz, leaving Chahar looking mainly at fault.
- In the 18th over, Chahar again misjudged a catching chance while coming in from deep fine leg.
- South African wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton completed the catch by moving to his left.
- Contact between Chahar and Rickelton created a risk of injury.
- Mumbai were defending 147/8 in a low-scoring game.
- Mhambrey argued that even if the chances were taken, the outcome wasn’t guaranteed.
The first incident came in the 10th over, when Chahar had a strong chance to take Powell at deep fine leg. The ball ended up landing between Chahar and Robin Minz, and the split-second miscue left the fast bowler with the main responsibility in that moment.
Later, the 18th over brought a second catching opportunity for Chahar. He came in from deep fine leg again, but the chance wasn’t taken cleanly—though Ryan Rickelton ensured the danger was removed by completing the catch while moving to his left. There was, however, a concerning overlap in their movement as both players came into bodily contact, underlining how quickly fielding errors can turn physical.
Mhambrey acknowledged the “what if” factor that follows missed chances, noting that if the Powell catch had been held, Mumbai—defending 147/8—would likely have been better positioned. He also suggested the match could have taken a different turn, though he stopped short of turning the loss into a one-player blame game.
Mhambrey’s response
When asked about the fielding lapses, the assistant coach pushed back firmly against the idea of assigning intent. “No one does it on purpose. You drop catches. It just happens, part of the game,” he said, adding that it’s not something the team should obsess over.
He did concede that if the Powell catch had been taken at that stage, it could have effectively meant an extra 15 to 20 runs in the context of the match. But his larger message remained that hindsight can make moments look larger than they were in the instant.
Mhambrey also pointed to a balancing example from the same game. He referenced Corbin Bosch, who took a standout catch to send Powell back after Allah Ghazanfar, framing it as the kind of swing in momentum that can offset earlier errors.
Explaining how mistakes can occur, Mhambrey argued that players often feel the urge to influence the game in a single over—especially in pressure situations where several things are happening at once. He said that desire to contribute can lead to misjudgments, and stressed that it’s not unique to Chahar or this match.
“There are too many things happening,” Mhambrey said. “Look at Deepak or anybody… you think about the game, right? You think about how I can make a difference in maybe one over that’s left.” He added that this kind of moment isn’t the first time it has happened and won’t be the last, insisting he would not “put Deepak under the train” for the errors.
What’s next for Mumbai Indians
With the season already over for Mumbai Indians in terms of qualification, the focus now shifts to their final outing. Their last match will be against Rajasthan Royals on Sunday, and while Mumbai can’t change their own fate, they can still affect the contest for RR.
Mhambrey said the priority is to keep playing with purpose. “You need to find a way to win. It’s a home game for us,” he noted, adding that the team understands the surface and will treat it as a fresh contest.
He also highlighted that the timing and conditions will differ for both teams, describing it as an afternoon match that will bring a different feel to proceedings for everyone involved. For Mumbai, it’s an opportunity to finish the campaign strong—even if the bigger picture can’t be altered.
