Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya did not hold back in his assessment after his side’s 27-run defeat to Rajasthan Royals in their rain-shortened IPL 2026 clash, pointing the finger firmly at the bowling unit. He admitted that poor execution with the ball allowed RR to post a daunting total in just 11 overs, ultimately putting the game out of reach.

Rajasthan Royals rode on a dominant opening stand between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi to post 150/3, a total that proved too steep for Mumbai Indians, who eventually managed only 123/9 in reply.

Reflecting on the performance, Hardik Pandya stressed that the bowlers needed to take greater responsibility, especially in a shortened format where margins are minimal.

ALSO READ: Yashasvi Jaiswal Reveals Message To Vaibhav Suryavanshi After His Six Off Bumrah

“We didn’t execute the deliveries we planned, and they played really well. As a bowling unit, we were not up to the mark. This wasn’t on the batters — the target was always going to demand risks,” Hardik Pandya said at the post-match presentation.

He further explained how small moments made a big difference in the final outcome.

“In T20 cricket, it’s about getting those key deliveries right. If you look at the margin, 27 runs, that’s probably five good balls or five fewer sixes. That’s where we fell short,” he added.

RR’s innings was built on a blistering 80-run opening partnership, with both batters taking full advantage of the powerplay. Suryavanshi set the tone with an explosive 39 off just 14 balls, while Jaiswal anchored the innings with a composed yet aggressive unbeaten 77 off 32 deliveries.

ALSO READ: Shreyas Iyer’s Sister Defends Viral KKR Troll Video, Urges Fans to Avoid Hate

Jaiswal’s knock combined elegant strokeplay with controlled aggression, as he struck boundaries at will and ensured RR maintained momentum throughout. In the end, the Mumbai Indians were left chasing a target that had already slipped beyond reach due to lapses with the ball.