IPL 2026: Hardik Pandya points to bowling lapses after MI’s defeat to RR in rain-hit clash

Guwahati — Back in charge after missing a game, Hardik Pandya didn’t hold back as he reflected on Mumbai Indians’ loss to Rajasthan Royals in a rain-shortened encounter at the ACA Stadium.

After opting to bowl first, Mumbai’s bowlers failed to make the most of helpful conditions. Rajasthan’s openers, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, came out all guns blazing, smashing boundaries at will. The duo piled on 56 runs in just over three overs during the Power-play, setting the tone for a formidable total of 150/3 in the 11-over contest.

Chasing 151, Mumbai never really recovered from an early collapse. Reduced to 46/5, they eventually finished at 123/9, falling short by 27 runs.

Pandya admitted the bowlers didn’t deliver as expected. He pointed out that the team failed to stick to their plans and allowed too many big hits early on. At the same time, he acknowledged the quality of Rajasthan’s batting, especially from their openers.

Interestingly, Pandya chose not to criticize the batting unit. Instead, he emphasized that the responsibility lay primarily with the bowlers, noting that better execution could have kept Mumbai in the game. He also mentioned how the aggressive start from Rajasthan put his team under pressure from the outset.

Speaking about young sensation Sooryavanshi, Pandya was full of praise. He admired the teenager’s fearless approach and said it was impressive to see someone so young play with such confidence.

Despite the defeat, Pandya remained optimistic. He stressed the importance of learning from mistakes and moving forward, expressing confidence that the team would regroup and prepare strongly for their next match.

With inputs from IANS