Mumbai Indians’ playoff hopes took a serious hit after their nail-biting loss to Gujarat Titans on Tuesday, May 6, in a rain-interrupted encounter at the Wankhede Stadium. Chasing a revised target of 147 in 19 overs, Gujarat held their nerve to secure a thrilling win on the final ball, clinching victory with three wickets in hand.

The defeat leaves Mumbai in a precarious position with only 14 points from 12 matches. With the playoff race heating up and seven teams still in contention, even 16 points may not guarantee a spot in the top four this season. MI now face a must-win situation in their remaining two matches against Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals to stay alive in the hunt.

Speaking after the match, MI’s head coach Mahela Jayawardene emphasised that his team would now treat every remaining fixture like a knockout game. “From this point on, every match is a playoff for us,” Jayawardene said, reflecting on the team’s mindset moving forward.

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Mumbai had made a remarkable comeback in the tournament, bouncing back from a dismal start where they lost four of their first five games. A six-match winning streak reignited their campaign, only to be halted in dramatic fashion against Gujarat.

“Both teams made mistakes, but we probably made a few more. That made the difference,” Mahela Jayawardene admitted. “We didn’t bat smartly in the final eight overs. We were set up well early on, but failed to capitalise.”

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He pointed out that Mumbai were at least 30 runs short on a pitch that required a smarter finish. “Our bowlers fought hard and created chances, which is encouraging. I’m proud of the fight we showed, but we need to be sharper.”

With key players like Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah in good form, MI will hope their big names step up in the crunch games ahead to keep their playoff hopes alive.