Guwahati, April 8 – After missing one match, Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya blamed his bowlers for allowing Rajasthan Royals openers to succeed, helping the team score 150/3 in their 11-over IPL 2026 match at the ACA Stadium, which was shortened due to rain.
After Pandya decided to field first, the Mumbai Indians bowling unit failed to capitalize on the conditions. Yashasvi Jaiswal (77 not out off 32) and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (39 off 14) hit sixes, scoring 56 runs in the Power-play of 3.2 overs. Mumbai allowed Rajasthan Royals to post a total of 150/3 in 11 overs, essentially winning the match in the Power-play itself.
Chasing a target of 151, Mumbai Indians suffered a collapse in their top order, finishing with 46/5 before ending their 11 overs at 123/9, losing by 27 runs.
Pandya said the bowlers failed to perform their job properly, allowing too many sixes in the first few overs.
"We did not execute the deliveries we were supposed to. They (RR openers) played well. The bowlers need to take responsibility. As a bowling group, we were not up to the mark. They (RR openers) also played tremendously," Pandya said in the post-match presentation.
Pandya said he would not blame his batsmen for not scoring enough runs in the Power-play.
"I would not put the blame on batting. Definitely the bowling unit, which had to take responsibility. It is always about bowling those good balls. If we had executed, we would have been in the game. Their openers threw us off our game, and we were playing catch-up," he added.
Asked about RR's teenage batting sensation, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Pandya said, "It is fascinating to see a 17- or 16-year-old boy (15-year-old) play that way. It is amazing to see the way he bats, the fearlessness he has. I wish him good luck for the future."
Pandya refused to get discouraged by the result and said they would learn from their mistakes. "Just learn from the mistakes. The morning will come tomorrow, the sun will rise, prepare well for the next game," he said.