Hardik Pandya-led Mumbai Indians (MI) played against the Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals (DC) in the 43rd match of the Indian Premier League 2024 (IPL 2024) on Saturday, April 27, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi as well. Mumbai Indians elected to bowl first in the match. Put into bat, DC registered their highest-ever IPL total – 257/4 with Jake Fraser-McGurk smashing a stunning knock (84). For MI, Mohammad Nabi, Piyush Chawla, Jasprit Bumrah and Luke Wood picked up one wicket each.

Chasing the target, Mumbai Indians managed 247 for 9 and lost the match by 10 runs as well. Tilak Varma (63) showed a great fight with his half-century but didn’t get much support from the other end which cost Mumbai Indians the game as well. While speaking at the toss, Hardik Pandya said they backed them to chase the target as well.

Hardik Pandya said: “This game is becoming more and more closer. It (the difference) used to be a couple of overs, now it’s becoming a couple of balls. Because of the kind of games and how the bowlers are under pressure, we backed ourselves to do it.”

However, Hardik Pandya further slammed Tilak Varma and Nehal Wadhera, saying that they could have attacked Axar Patel more in the middle over.

Hardik Pandya stated: “If I had to pick something out, we could have taken a couple of more chances in the middle overs. The left-handers could have probably gone after Axar a little bit, it’s something we missed out in terms of game awareness.”

Hardik Pandya also applauded Jake Fraser-McGurk for his stupendous knock and said: “It was quite amazing the way he (Fraser-McGurk) batted, he took calculated risks, he played the field really well. It shows the fearlessness of youth. (If he would’ve done something different at the toss) Not really.”