‘We had to pay the price for this’- Whom did Hardik Pandya hold responsible for the defeat against PBKS

In their final league match of the IPL 2025 season, Mumbai Indians faced a disappointing defeat at the hands of Punjab Kings on May 26. The loss not only hurt their morale but also dashed their hopes of finishing in the top two of the points table. Now, Mumbai Indians will have to take the longer and more difficult route through the eliminator to keep their title hopes alive. Punjab Kings, on the other hand, secured a convincing 7-wicket victory and confirmed their place in the top two, giving them two opportunities to reach the final. They will now face either Gujarat Titans or Royal Challengers Bangalore in Qualifier 1, depending on the outcome of the LSG vs RCB match.

After the defeat, MI captain Hardik Pandya did not hold back his frustration. Speaking during the post-match presentation, Pandya admitted that the team fell short with the bat and couldn’t capitalize on the conditions. “The way the wicket was playing, we obviously fell short by 20 runs. It happens. We are playing really good cricket, but today we didn’t play our best and it cost us,” Pandya said. He acknowledged that while Mumbai has a strong legacy with five IPL titles, each season presents its own challenges, and the IPL remains as competitive as ever.

He also emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum and playing aggressive cricket, noting that any slackness gives the opposition a chance to take control. “Whenever you slow down the pace of the match, the other teams are also very eager to win the game,” he said. This, according to Pandya, was one of the reasons why Mumbai couldn’t match Punjab’s intensity.

Looking ahead, Pandya urged his team to stay focused and not let the defeat linger. “The message for the team will be simple—this was just a defeat, learn from it, and move towards the knockouts,” he said. He stressed the need to reflect on their batting performance, especially since they were clearly 20 runs short of what could have been a winning total. He added, “We could have taken advantage of the powerplay or the middle overs better. We’ll analyze and figure it out later.”

Pandya also praised the efforts of the bowling unit, which has been consistent throughout the season. However, he pointed out that the batting unit needs to develop a clear blueprint for different match scenarios—whether batting first or chasing a target. “The bowlers have been doing really well throughout the season. While batting, we will prepare the right blueprint for the right track and decide the pace we need to maintain if we bat first,” he explained.

Despite the setback, Pandya remained optimistic and calm, urging his teammates not to panic. “There are some things we need to identify, but I don’t think we should panic too much. We knew what was at stake,” he concluded. He expressed confidence in his team’s ability to bounce back in the eliminator and reiterated the importance of executing plans effectively.

With the eliminator match fast approaching, Mumbai Indians will need to regroup quickly, address their batting issues, and enter the knockout phase with renewed determination. Hardik Pandya’s leadership and the team’s ability to perform under pressure will be crucial as they aim to add a sixth IPL title to their storied history.