Mumbai Indians (MI) suffered a disappointing 12-run defeat at the hands of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in a thrilling IPL 2025 clash at the Ekana Stadium on April 5. Chasing a stiff target of 204, MI fell short in the final over, needing 22 runs with Hardik Pandya at the crease, but were unable to get over the line despite the pressure-cooker situation favoring their experienced finishers.
Speaking after the match, MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene admitted that the loss was a significant “setback” for the team. While the batters showed flashes of brilliance, Jayawardene pointed fingers at the bowling unit, which allowed LSG to post a competitive total despite a middle-order collapse. The inability to contain runs in key phases ultimately made the difference, he suggested.
Suryakumar Yadav, MI’s vice-captain and dependable performer, played a sublime knock of 67 off 43 balls, peppered with nine boundaries and a six. However, once he was dismissed, MI’s middle order faltered under pressure. The team couldn’t build momentum or stitch together partnerships during the death overs, letting the game slip away.
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“I have to be honest, it is a setback,” Mahela Jayawardene said in the post-match press interaction. “We probably made quite a few mistakes, especially with the ball. We should have restricted them by at least 15–20 runs. Even in the chase, we had momentum despite early wickets. It came down to not being smart enough in crucial moments and failing to execute under pressure.”
Reflecting on their campaign so far, the former Sri Lankan skipper added, “We’ve had three away games and just one at home. We need to get our points on the board quickly and push forward.”
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Jayawardene emphasized that MI’s bowling unit requires fine-tuning, and their batters need to be more clinical during the middle overs. He believes that with better execution in these two areas, the five-time champions can bounce back strongly in the tournament.
“In the first two games, we lacked rhythm. Against Chennai and Gujarat, we were outplayed. But here, we were closer to our best. We just need to finish games better,” he concluded.
