Picture Credit: X/IPL
The Hardik Pandya-led Mumbai Indians suffered their third straight loss in the IPL 2024. While they lost their opening game against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, they then went onto lose against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), followed by their most recent defeat against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Seeing their disappointing performances on the field in the ongoing edition of the IPL, former India cricketer and the 2011 World Cup winner, Virender Sehwag shared an anecdote from MI’s past seasons. Speaking on Cricbuzz, Sehwag highlighted how Mumbai knows how to make a comeback in the season despite several losses, but that was under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, he emphasised.
“Mumbai is a team that loses 3-4 matches but knows how to make a comeback. But that was Rohit Sharma’s Mumbai, not Hardik’s,” he said during the live interaction.
He further added that with the change in captaincy, the pressure is currently on Hardik Pandya, who took over as MI captain, replacing Rohit Sharma. “So this is a pressure on Hardik as to how he can inspire his team to stage a comeback,” he said.
Speaking of the last IPL 2024 fixture, which took place between Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, it was the visiting skipper who won the toss and invited the hosts to bat first. On the back of a 21-ball 34 from Hardik Pandya and a 29-ball 32 from Tilak Varma, the MI posted 125/9 in their 20 overs as Trent Boult and Yuzvendra Chahal ripped the MI lineup, scalping three wickets each.
With an unbeaten 54 from Riyan Parag and some crucial knocks from the other RR members, the 2008 champions sealed their third straight win by more than four overs to be spared.
The Hardik Pandya-led Mumbai Indians will next play Delhi Capitals at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 7 at 3:30 pm IST.
