IPL 2026: Hardik Pandya Blames Bowlers After Mumbai Indians’ 27-Run Defeat to Rajasthan Royals
Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya did not mince words following his team’s 27-run defeat to the Rajasthan Royals in a rain-curtailed IPL 2026 clash in Guwahati on April 8, 2026. The loss, MI’s second consecutive setback of the season, has intensified pressure on the five-time champions as the mid-season scramble for playoff spots heats up.
Pandya singled out his bowling unit for the poor performance, noting that the team conceded a massive 150 runs in just 11 overs. Despite featuring star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, the MI attack struggled against the Royals’ explosive left-handed duo of Yashasvi Jaiswal and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The opening pair piled on 80 runs in the first five overs, leaving Mumbai Indians chasing an imposing total under rain-adjusted conditions.
“The target was too steep for our batters to chase, forcing them into high-risk shots from the very first delivery,” Pandya said during the post-match presentation. He added, “I think we did not execute the deliveries which we were supposed to. As a bowling group, we were not at all up to the mark. This was the bowling unit which had to take responsibility.” Pandya highlighted that just five poor deliveries, which went for sixes, essentially determined the margin of defeat, shielding the batting lineup from criticism.
The match also marked a historic moment for teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who blasted 39 off just 14 balls, including two towering sixes off Bumrah, earning praise from commentators including Harbhajan Singh.
With Mumbai Indians now grappling with consecutive losses, the team will need to regroup quickly and find consistency in their bowling if they hope to remain contenders in this high-scoring edition of the IPL. The Royals, meanwhile, celebrate a dominant opening stand that may go down as one of the season’s most memorable performances.
