Mumbai Indians started off IPL 2026 with a win but after that they have registered four losses on the trot, and the latest coming on Thursday against Punjab Kings. Head coach Mahela Jayawardene said it would be unfair to put the blame on captain Hardik Pandya.
“I don’t think it’s just on Hardik, I think it’s on every one of us when we are not doing well,” Jayawardene said after MI’s seven-wicket loss to PBKS.
“It’s not an individual. It’s pretty much on me, everyone who is involved in the management and all that to see how can we be better.
“I know we are playing good cricket. We are not taken out completely, but at the same time the other teams are much better, clinical; obviously the confidence is high as well when they have that kind of start so we just need to control phases that we can control. So I think it’s not just on one individual. As a franchise, as a team management, we need to do things better to get into some rhythm and then get a few wins under our belt that will give us that confidence.”
Jayawardene thinks injuries to players has also affected the combination of the team, like Rohit Sharma didn’t feature in the PBKS game because of an injury. Mitchell Santner also missed the match due to illness. Pandya had ealier missed a game against Delhi Capitals because of illness.
“I think the four games that we lost – two away and two at home – were different kind of games and we did try some combinations and some of those combinations were forced on us because of injuries and players not (being) available,” Jayawardene said.
“So (we are) trying to create something of what is available. But we are finding some spark in certain areas but the other side is finding that especially with the ball; we haven’t been able to penetrate oppositions so that’s something that we really have to work harder (at) and see how we can improve on that.”
MI’s bowling has been a major concern in this season so far especially Jasprit Bumrah remaining wicketless in five games, and in the match against PBKS his economy was 10.25.
“I think Bumrah is bowling well – it’s just where we are not putting pressure in the powerplay,” Jayawardene said. “They (opposition batters) know they don’t need to take too much risk against Bumrah as well, and we have tried a few different things, which he is trying as well, but they are batting well. I can’t put a finger and say why he’s not taken wicket… but as a unit we have lacked that penetration in different surfaces and that’s something that we need to work (on) and see what we need to do.”
Bumrah’s pace too has dropped and when asked the reason, MI head coach said: “I think initially because he had a slight niggle… we wanted to build him up, over the last few games his speeds have gone up, we’ve looked at all that, so he’s very comfortable.
“Sometimes you need a bit of luck as well: the other (bowler) is taking a few wickets and then he gets some match-ups which he’s very comfortable, very good. (He) bowled some really good balls initially to Shreyas (Iyer) as well, wasn’t lucky enough. I think once he starts taking wickets, might not be able to stop him doing that.”
Asked about Rohit’s return, Jayawardene said they won’t rush him back. “On Ro, he started running yesterday, (we’ll take) day to day to see how he feels,” Jayawardene said. “He knows his body better than anybody else so it’s nothing serious but at the same time we don’t want to push and it’s early season still.”
