Hardik Pandya Acknowledges Bowling Deficiencies in Loss to RR: ‘We Fell Short’

Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya attributed their defeat against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Guwahati on Tuesday to their bowling performance. In a rain-shortened match, RR scored 150 runs in 11 overs while batting first, as the veteran MI bowling attack struggled to implement their game plan effectively.

“Our execution in the powerplay was lacking. The RR openers performed well. Bowlers must accept accountability. As a bowling unit, we fell short,” Pandya reflected on the match outcome.

Despite the batting unit coming up 27 runs short, Pandya refrained from criticizing them for the loss.
“I wouldn’t blame the batting for this match. It is the bowling unit that needs to take responsibility. It always boils down to delivering quality balls. If we had executed our plans, we would have been competitive.”

Man of the Match Yashasvi Jaiswal (77 not out off 32 balls) and young talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (39 off 14 balls) paired to score 80 runs for the opening wicket in just five overs, paving the way for Rajasthan Royal’s victory.

“The RR openers were exceptional. They disrupted our strategy, and we found ourselves chasing the game.”

Complimenting Sooryavanshi, Pandya mentioned, “It’s remarkable to see a 15-year-old play like that. His fearless approach and batting style are impressive. I wish him all the best for the future.”

Looking ahead to their next match against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on April 12, Pandya stated, “We just need to learn from our mistakes. Tomorrow is a new day, and we’ll prepare well for the upcoming game.”

MI began their season on a high note with a convincing victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their opener. However, they have faced losses against the Delhi Capitals (DC) and RR since then, so Pandya will be eager for a positive return in their next match.