Hardik Pandya Faces Tough Questions After MI’s 8th Defeat in IPL 2024, Promises Detailed Responses

It was a crushing defeat for Mumbai Indians as they fell prey to Kolkata Knight Riders by 24 runs at the Wankhede Stadium, snapping a 12-year streak where MI remained unbeaten against the two-time champions at their home ground. Leading the five-time championship winning side, Hardik Pandya criticized the side’s batting unit which was unable to remain calm under pressure. The home team lost their top-3 batsmen in the powerplay which brought the visitors back into the game. “Obviously in the batting innings, we couldn’t build partnerships and keep losing wickets, in T20s if you don’t build partnerships you pay the price,” Pandya said at the post-match presentation ceremony. Reflecting on the defeat, Pandya had nothing more to say as the team now sits ninth on the points table with a good and real chance of finishing in the top 4.

“Not much, there are a lot of questions that will take some time to answer but right now, not much to say,” the MI skipper said. But he was reflecting on the positives, particularly the bowling unit that did their best as a unit. Nuwan Tushara led the way with three wickets in the Powerplay while Jasprit Bumrah took three wickets which came at the death. Piyush Chawla also took one wicket while the skipper took two wickets. “As you said, the bowlers did a great job, after the first innings the wicket got a bit better and the mist came off,” Hardik said.

“We will go through the game and see what we could have done better,” Pandya added.

However, as he concluded, he gave fighting words that MI hopes will not go in vain as they have three more games in the season which they plan to end on a positive note. “You keep fighting, that’s what I tell myself, never give up on the battlefield, hard days come but here are good ones, it’s challenging but challenges make you better,” concluded the MI captain.