Mumbai Indians will be back! (PC-PTI)
Mumbai Indians team lost against Sunrisers Hyderabad by 6 wickets. The amazing thing is that Mumbai had scored 243 runs while batting first, yet this team lost the match with 8 balls to spare. This is Mumbai Indians’ sixth defeat in 8 matches this season and they are at 9th place in the points table. The question is whether five-time champion Mumbai will not be able to reach the playoffs this year also? Is Mumbai wiped out from IPL 2026? The answer to these questions is no. Let us tell you that Mumbai Indians can still reach the playoffs, let us tell you what is the equation?
Mumbai Indians still have a chance
Mumbai Indians The performance this season has been very poor. This team has lost 4 consecutive matches at its own home ground Wankhede. But believe me, this team still has a chance to make a comeback. If Mumbai Indians want to make it to the playoffs, they will have to win all their remaining 6 matches. By winning all 6 matches, it will have 16 points and will have every chance of reaching the playoffs. If this team loses even one match now, then this team will be able to have only 14 points and then it will have to depend on the results of other teams to reach the playoffs. Therefore, the easiest way is that this team wins all the remaining 6 matches.
Mumbai has to take on these teams
Mumbai Indians have to play three out of the next 6 matches against teams whose form is amazing at the moment. This includes RCB, Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals. Apart from these, Mumbai Indians have to play matches against Chennai Super Kings, Lucknow and Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai has a chance of victory against these teams. At present Mumbai will have to play every match like a knock out. The next match of this team is against Chennai Super Kings on May 2 and from here Mumbai will have to make a fresh start.
The sword hanging on Hardik Pandya
Let us tell you that after such a poor performance of Mumbai Indians, now there is a demand to remove Hardik Pandya from the captaincy. Hardik became the captain of the team in the year 2024 and the condition of the team was bad in the last two seasons and the same is happening this time too. But the question here is, is Hardik Pandya alone responsible for such a bad condition? Former New Zealand fast bowler and commentator in IPL, Simon Doull believes that Hardik Pandya alone is not responsible for this condition of Mumbai, the top think tank of Mumbai Indians is also at fault. Simon Doull said, ‘I think it’s everyone’s fault here. First is the responsibility of team management because it was he who made Pandya the captain in place of Rohit Sharma. This team did well in the auction, this team looks good on paper. But it tends to be bad one year, the second year it is a matter of concern but the third time it is very bad.
