'My wicket changed the game': MI's captain Hardik Pandya reason for IPL 2024 loss to RR
PTC News Desk: Mumbai Indians' captain, Hardik Pandya, candidly reflected on his team's recent defeat against the Rajasthan Royals in the ongoing IPL 2024 tournament. Admitting that it was a challenging night for the squad, Pandya acknowledged that they faced their third consecutive loss, signaling a concerning trend for the five-time IPL champions.
The match unfolded unfavourably for Mumbai Indians, as they struggled to muster a collective effort on the field. Despite being asked to bat first, they encountered a disastrous start, losing four wickets within the powerplay overs. Only determined innings from Hardik Pandya, who scored 34 runs, and Tilak Varma, contributing 32 runs, enabled them to limp to a total of 125/9 in their allotted 20 overs.
Unfortunately for Mumbai, this total proved inadequate for their bowlers to defend, despite commendable performances from Akash Madhwal, who claimed 3 wickets for 20 runs, and Jasprit Bumrah, who bowled a tight spell conceding 26 runs but remained wicketless. The Rajasthan Royals efficiently chased down the target, achieving victory with 27 balls to spare, largely credited to Riyan Parag's unbeaten 54-run innings.
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Reflecting on the match, Pandya acknowledged the challenging start faced by Mumbai Indians, emphasising the impact of Rajasthan Royals' pacers, who wreaked havoc with the new ball, resulting in Mumbai being reduced to 20 runs for the loss of four wickets early in their innings.
In his attempt to rebuild Mumbai's innings, Pandya adopted a counter-attacking approach with his 34-run knock. However, his dismissal, as he attempted to play a big shot, marked a pivotal moment in the game, further hampering Mumbai Indians' chances of posting a competitive total. Overall, the defeat underscores Mumbai Indians' current struggle to find form and cohesion as a team, highlighting areas for improvement as they aim to reverse their fortunes in the remainder of the IPL 2024 season.
Following Mumbai Indians' defeat against the Rajasthan Royals, captain Hardik Pandya expressed his thoughts on the pivotal moments of the game, particularly emphasising the significance of his own dismissal.
Acknowledging the potential game-changing effect of his wicket, Pandya admitted that the outcome might have differed had he managed to stay at the crease for a longer duration. "I wanted to counter and 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," remarked the star all-rounder.
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Reflecting on the pitch conditions at the Wankhede Stadium, Pandya noted the unexpected assistance provided to the pacers, resulting in challenges for both batting line-ups. Despite the difficulties faced by batsmen, Pandya refrained from complaining about the conditions, expressing his support for pitches that offer assistance to bowlers. "It's good to have something for the bowlers as well. The game is quite cruel to the bowlers. But it was unexpected," he commented, highlighting the unpredictable nature of cricket outcomes.
Looking ahead, Pandya remained optimistic about Mumbai Indians' ability to bounce back in the upcoming matches. However, he stressed the importance of discipline and courage in the team's performance, emphasising the need for improvement in these areas. "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," concluded Pandya, outlining the team's focus for future fixtures.
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(Inputs from agencies)
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