 "Hardik Pandya has now lost first three matches as Mumbai Indians captain. PTI")
After suffering his third consecutive loss as a Mumbai Indians captain, Hardik Pandya has asked his team to be more “disciplined” and show more “courage” to shun the poor loss of form. Mumbai Indians are the only side to not have any points so far in IPL 2024 as they suffered a six-wicket loss to Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday. Batting first MI lost their first four wickets for just 20 and ended with a score of 125/9.
This was overhauled in 15.3 overs by RR.
Reacting to the MI’s third defeat in as many games in IPL 2024, Hardik said that the group is confident they can “pull off” better things in future.
“We didn’t start the way we wanted to, tough night tonight,” Hardik said. “Results, sometimes it happens sometimes it doesn’t. I don’t think much surprises me anymore. But as a group we believe we can pull off a lot of better things going forward and we just need to be more disciplined and show more courage.”
Hardik also took the blame for his team not getting to a par total. He was Mumbai’s highest run-getter with a knock of 34 off 21 balls but his dismissal to Yuzvendra Chahal in 10th over swung the game back in RR’s favour.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“I think we were in a decent position to give us a chance to get to 150 or 160 but I think my wicket changed the game and brought them more in the game and I think I could have done better,” he shared.
On bowling-friendly conditions where Chahal and Trent Boult wreaked havoc with match figures of 3/11 and 3/22 respectively, Pandya said that it’s good to have some support for the bowlers.
“It’s good to have something for the bowlers as well. The game is quite cruel to the bowlers. But it was unexpected. It’s all about doing the right things,” Pandya said.
RR captain Sanju Samson admitted that winning the toss was the game-changer for Rajasthan.
“(The toss) I think that was the gamechanger. The toss was very crucial. I felt it was too sticky to start off and we had the experience of Trent Boult and Nandre Burger’s speed,” Samson said. “(Boult) has been playing international cricket for so long and we expected him to deliver. I didn’t expect four or five wickets down, but it was great.
“We all do our roles and move on. Someone like R Ashwin knew we had a good powerplay so he didn’t go for wickets, just kept it tight. So it’s about teamwork.”