Mumbai Indians’ captain Hardik Pandya, back in action after missing a match, criticized his bowlers for allowing Rajasthan Royals’ openers to dominate, resulting in a hefty 150/3 score in their rain-shortened 11-over IPL 2026 match at the ACA Stadium.
Pandya’s decision to field first backfired as Rajasthan Royals’ Yashasvi Jaiswal (77 not out off 32) and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (39 off 14) aggressively scored 56 runs in just 3.2 overs during the Power-play, setting up a challenging target for Mumbai Indians.
Despite a valiant effort, Mumbai Indians faced a top-order collapse, reaching 123/9 in 11 overs while chasing 151 runs, ultimately losing by 27 runs. Pandya expressed disappointment in his bowlers’ performance, emphasizing the need for better execution and control over conceding sixes early in the innings.
In the post-match presentation, Pandya acknowledged the impressive batting display by RR’s openers and refrained from blaming his team’s batters, highlighting the crucial role of the bowling unit in shaping the game’s outcome.
Pandya commended the teenage talent of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi from RR, appreciating the young player’s fearless approach and skill. Looking ahead, Pandya remained optimistic, emphasizing the importance of learning from mistakes and preparing diligently for the upcoming games.
