Nothing seems to have worked for Mumbai Indians this season as they finished on the losing side despite putting up a massive 243 for 5 on the board. After losing to Sunrisers Hyderabad by six wickets on Wednesday, skipper Hardik Pandya said MI are falling short of their own high standards this season.
SRH chased down the target with eight balls to spare as Mumbai’s star bowler Jasprit Bumrah had to endure yet another off day on the field where he conceded 54 runs in his four overs and going wicketless.
However, Pandya backed his bowlers after they failed to defend the big total. “I think this season we don’t have much option, we really need to see what all differences we can do. I won’t put my bowlers under the bus. I think as an overall unit, we have not been able to do what exactly Mumbai Indians stands for.”
“We really need to see what all we need to work on,” he added.
Pandya is confident that with the backing of the franchise owners and the support the team will find a way to bounce back.
“We have passionate owners and support staff, hopefully we will figure out something.”
Pandya also thanked the Mumbai Indians fans and said this season the team has not given them enough opportunity to cheer and celebrate.
“We have not given them much opportunity to back us — but they have been fantastic and loyal. Sometimes it hurts when the opposition comes and they start chanting their name. But we probably need to give them more (to cheer and shout about),” he said.
The MI skipper lauded the batting effort of the team but regretted the few missed opportunities including dropped catches that could have shifted the momentum in the team’s favour.
“Yes, I enjoyed (the batting), I had fun today on the ground. Yeah, I think 244, I think I’ll back my bowlers to stop it, but some other day today we could not execute.
“I think it’s been that kind of season (of missed chances on the field). When you get a couple of chances, you grab them, that’s when the luck and momentum changes. If you don’t, it kind of hurts you…all the boys tried really well. They gave everything, it did not work out,” Pandya said.
SRH captain Pat Cummins praised his players for their fearless approach and urged them to continue playing in the same positive manner.
“When the pitch is good, they (openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head) have so many different shots. Glad I am not bowling to them,” he said, adding that the youngsters in the side have a “super aggressive” approach.
Player of the Match Heinrich Klaasen, who walked in at a crucial stage after Sunrisers Hyderabad lost a couple of quick wickets and went on to play a match-winning knock, said he took his chances early against a quality Mumbai Indians attack.
“Big gap at cow corner so had to take a risk early. Wicket was good. They (MI) had a quality bowling attack, so had to take a chance and see if we could make light work of it.
“(Abhishek and Head) put the bowlers under pressure. If they are going (at a brisk rate), it makes your job easier,” he said.
After the loss, Mumbai Indians are languishing on four points from eight games, while Sunrisers Hyderabad climbed to third spot with 12 points from nine matches.
