R Ashwin Criticises Hardik Pandya’s Captaincy After MI’s Heavy Loss to RCB
Mumbai — Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin launched a sharp critique of Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya following MI’s heavy defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their latest Indian Premier League clash, pointing to what he described as poor tactical decisions, particularly in the use of spin bowling.
The MI vs RCB encounter, traditionally one of the most high-profile rivalries in the IPL, saw the Bengaluru side dominate the match with a commanding performance. While MI have historically held an edge in overall success, the 2026 season fixture tilted heavily in RCB’s favour, with batting standout Rajat Patidar playing a key role in dismantling Mumbai’s bowling attack.
In a detailed analysis on his YouTube channel, Ashwin focused on MI’s decision-making, especially the choice to introduce spinner Mayank Markande early against Patidar. He argued that the move played directly into the batter’s strengths.
Ashwin revisited a previous IPL 2024 encounter between Sunrisers Hyderabad and RCB, where Patidar had also dominated spin bowling, including an over where he struck multiple sixes off Markande. According to Ashwin, this was a clear indicator of Patidar’s ability against spin, which MI should have factored into their strategy.
“This SRH vs RCB 2024 game was where Rajat Patidar announced that he is a spin hitter,” Ashwin noted, recalling how the batter had previously taken Markande apart.
He further questioned the tactical awareness behind the decision. “Rajat Patidar is a monster hitter against spinners. When he came to bat, you gave the ball to Markande straight away? Not the smartest of moves. Very, very average,” he said.
Ashwin also highlighted how Markande ended up conceding 40 runs in just two overs, while fellow spinner Mitchell Santner also struggled, giving away 43 runs in his full quota. Collectively, MI’s spinners leaked 83 runs in six overs, a phase that proved decisive in the outcome of the match.
According to Ashwin, the difference between MI’s possible and actual performance came down to these tactical errors, suggesting that better planning could have restricted RCB to a much lower total.
The comments have sparked widespread discussion among fans and analysts, adding another layer to the already intense MI vs RCB rivalry, and raising questions about on-field decision-making under pressure in high-stakes IPL encounters.
