Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya believes that his team's bowling was not upto the mark in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 clash against Punjab Kings at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Monday, May 26. PBKS defeated MI by seven wickets to ensure a top-two spot in the playoffs of the marquee event.
After being asked to bat, MI managed to score 184 runs in 20 overs and while chasing, PBKS chased down the score in the 19th over with nine balls remaining. While asked whether the batting conditions were changed during the second innings, the MI skipper denied that and blamed the team's poor bowling performance. He also praised PBKS' batting lineup for playing clinical shots.
"It would be same, I don't think much difference. They really played good cricket, those two batters, the second wicket stand was outstanding. They really took on certain balls whenever we erred and I don't think as a bowling unit we were clinical, we gave some balls which they really capitalised and certain times, they played some good shots as well. Overall, we were not up to the mark and it costed us" said Hardik Pandya in post-match presentation.
Hardik also said that MI were 20 runs short and they were unable to play their best cricket against PBKS and that cost them the match.
"The way the wicket played, we were definitely 20 runs short. That happens, we've been playing really good cricket, we couldn't play our best cricket and that costed us. IPL is like that, this franchise has won five trophies, it has always been tough. Anytime if you take the leg off the accelerator, the other teams are also keen to win. The message would be simple, this was just a blip, learn from this, look forward for the knockouts. It's too fresh, we'll identify later but overall we were definitely 20 runs short. We could have capitalised either in the start or in the middle, we'll figure it out" added Hardik.
MI will now have to play an eliminator clash to stay in the race for the final. On the eliminator, Hardik is confident that the team will work on their plans to play good cricket.
"Overall, play good cricket, bat well, bowl well, work on the plans. We'll figure out the template. Looking forward for the Eliminator," Hardik also said.
Punjab Kings, who have made the playoffs for the first time since 2014, now travel back to their home ground in Mullanpur for the Qualifier 1 scheduled on May 29.