Hardik Pandya’s Mumbai Indians (MI) suffered a third consecutive defeat in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 on Monday night. The 5-time champions looked to turn fortunes at home, playing their first game at the Wankhede Stadium this season. But the Rajasthan Royals came out as the better side, winning the contest by 6 wickets to consolidate their top position on the points table with six wickets.
After being asked to bat first, the MI top-order surrendered itself to the RR’s pace attack, led by Trent Boult who snared three wickets in just 4 balls across two overs. Later, Yuzvendra Chahal chipped in to sting the middle-order with a three-wicket haul, including the prized one of Hardik Pandya. The hosts were in tatters as they managed just 126 runs in 20 overs. In reply, the men in pink made an easy way to victory.
Riyan Parag churned out yet another top-drawer knock to take the Royals to a clinical win. His unbeaten 54 was studded with five fours and three sixes as Royals reached 127/4 from 15.3 overs, winning with 27 balls to spare.
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Following the loss, MI skipper Pandya urged his team to show a bit more ‘discipline’ and ‘courage’ to turn things around after suffering a third successive loss in the ongoing tournament.
“We didn’t start the way we wanted to, tough night tonight,” Hardik told the broadcasters.
“Results, sometimes it happens sometimes it doesn’t. I don’t think much surprises me anymore. But as a group we believe we can pull off a lot of better things going forward and we just need to be more disciplined and show more courage,” he added.
It was Hardik’s 21-ball 34 which pushed MI’s total but things went downhill after he was sent back by Yuzvendra Chahal.
“I think we were in a decent position to give us a chance to get to 150 or 160 but I think my wicket changed the game and brought them more in the game and I think I could have done better.
“It’s good to have something for the bowlers as well. The game is quite cruel to the bowlers. But it was unexpected. It’s all about doing the right things,” he concluded.
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