IPL 2026: ‘It’s difficult to even analyse such a defeat’

MI’s Suryakumar Yadav during their 103-run defeat to CSK at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. PIC/ATUL KAMBLE

Though Mumbai Indians (MI) were playing against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at their home ground at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, it was the visiting team that enjoyed most of the crowd support.

The Yellow Fever rose further when MI lost their top three batters by the third over, with just 11 runs on the board, while chasing 207-6. In fact, half-way through the second innings there were hardly blue-jersey donning MI supporters left in the stands as most had left long before the hosts suffered a massive 103-run defeat after being bowled out for just 104 in the 19th over.

This was five-time champions MI's fifth defeat in seven games this season and head coach Mahela Jayawardene blamed it on the Powerplays. Bowling first, MI conceded 73 runs in the first six overs, while scoring just 29 and losing three wickets in theirs.

Mahela Jayawardene

"Honestly, we haven't played good cricket. It's been in patches. We had a great game [vs Gujarat Titans] in Ahmedabad. We found some rhythm, but we lost it again. Once you lose a match like that, it's difficult to even analyse it. But probably it's the two Powerplays. We lost both the Powerplays, with the ball and bat," Jayawardene said during the post-match press conference on Thursday night.

The former Sri Lankan skipper also admitted there was a big hole in MI's bowling department. MI skipper Hardik Pandya, who went wicketless and conceded 38 runs in his two overs vs CSK, has taken just three wickets in six games so far. MI's bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has claimed just two wickets in seven games, while MI's most successful bowler is off-spinner AM Ghazanfar, who has picked eight scalps in five matches.

"If you analyse the seven games, yes, there was a hole in our bowling and we got some fresh faces in there. But it's just execution-wise, consistency… I think we're one of the teams who has given the highest number of big overs, 18-plus overs. If you look at the half-season, that number puts us in a very bad position to try and claw back into a game," added Jayawardene.

MI have a few days break to think again and regroup before their next game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 29, and Jayawardene hopes it will help them regroup. "We've got a little break now. It gives us some time to think about what we need to do in the next seven matches, and we know exactly what we need to do. We'll sit down, we'll reflect and come back strong," concluded Jayawardene.

142.73
Suryakumar Yadav's strike-rate in the ongoing IPL - his lowest since 2019