Conceding 73 runs in the final five overs proved costly for Mumbai Indians, according to skipper Hardik Pandya, as they fell short by 30 runs against Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Despite a strong start, Mumbai struggled as Jofra Archer’s quickfire 32 and contributions from other Rajasthan batsmen led to a challenging total of 205/8.
Archer’s impressive bowling with 3-17, supported by Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma, and Yash Raj Punja, restricted Mumbai to 195/9. Suryakumar Yadav’s 60 and efforts from Will Jacks and Pandya were not enough as Mumbai Indians finished with eight points from 14 matches, landing second to last in the points table.
Reflecting on the match, Pandya highlighted the impact of allowing Rajasthan to score heavily in the final overs and the early wicket losses that hindered their chase. He emphasized the importance of containing boundaries in the crucial last five overs to prevent the opposition from gaining a significant advantage.
Pandya expressed satisfaction with his personal performance despite the team’s overall struggles in the tournament. He mentioned feeling physically well and enjoying his batting in the recent match, acknowledging the demanding schedule post the T20 World Cup.
