Hardik Pandya didn’t shy away from acknowledging the Mumbai Indians’ struggles after yet another disappointing outing in IPL 2026, admitting the team hasn’t given its loyal fanbase enough moments to celebrate this season. Despite posting a record-breaking 243/5 — their highest-ever first-innings total in IPL history — MI failed to defend it as Sunrisers Hyderabad pulled off a stunning chase with six balls to spare.
It has been a campaign riddled with inconsistency, injuries, and missed opportunities. With six defeats in eight matches, Mumbai find themselves languishing near the bottom of the table, a position few would have predicted at the start of the tournament. Pandya pointed out that while the fans have continued to show unwavering support, the team has not matched those expectations on the field.
“I think we have not given them much opportunity to back us,” Hardik Pandya admitted in the post-match interaction. “But they have been fantastic and loyal. Sometimes it hurts when the opposition team comes in and you hear their chants. We need to entertain our fans better to earn that trust.”
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The game itself summed up MI’s season. SRH’s explosive opening pair, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, took control early, racing to 92 runs in the Powerplay. Mumbai had their chances to turn the tide, but dropped catches — including two reprieves for Head — proved costly. The Australian made the most of it, smashing a blistering 76 off just 30 deliveries.
Hardik Pandya acknowledged how crucial those missed moments were. “When you get chances, you have to grab them. That’s when momentum shifts. If you don’t, it hurts,” he said. “Still, the boys gave everything. It just didn’t come off.”
Mumbai rotated as many as six bowlers in their attempt to defend the total, but none managed to contain the flow of runs. Even Jasprit Bumrah, usually their go-to match-winner, endured a rare off day, conceding 54 runs without taking a wicket.
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Hardik Pandya, however, refused to single out individuals. “I won’t put the bowlers under the bus,” he added. “As a unit, we haven’t lived up to what Mumbai Indians stand for. We need to find answers quickly.”
