Good evening!
Welcome to the live coverage of the IPL 2026 match between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians at Guwahati. There seems to be a whiff of rain around in the city. Stay tuned as we bring you live updates from the game.
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#IPL #Hardik #Pandya #hints #difficult #calls #Mumbai #Indians #searchesfor #spark #infaltering #campaign">IPL 2026: Hardik Pandya hints at ‘difficult calls’ as Mumbai Indians searches for ‘spark’ in faltering campaign It may still be early in the season, but Mumbai Indians has already drifted into troubled waters, managing just one win from its first five matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The concern is no longer simmering; it’s out in the open. Following a seven-wicket loss to Punjab Kings at the Wankhede Stadium, captain Hardik Pandya admitted that the team may need to take “difficult calls” if needed.
Even head coach Mahela Jayawardene, typically measured in his assessments, conceded that the side is still searching for the elusive “spark.” He pointed to the bowling unit as a key area of concern but was quick to stress that the responsibility does not lie with the captain alone.
“I don’t think it’s just on Hardik, I think it’s on every one of us when we are not doing well,” Jayawardene said. “It’s not an individual. It’s pretty much on me, everyone involved in the management and all that to see how we can be better.”
Despite insisting that the team hasn’t been completely outplayed, Jayawardene acknowledged that opposition sides have been sharper and more clinical, riding high on confidence. “We need to control the phases we can,” he added.
While the batting unit, particularly Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma, has come under scrutiny for inconsistency, the bigger worry remains the lack of bite in the bowling. Jasprit Bumrah has been economical but wicketless, while Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar have failed to make a significant impact.
Jayawardene also pointed to disruptions caused by injuries and availability issues. Rohit Sharma missed the last game due to injury, while Mitchell Santner was sidelined by illness.
“The games we lost were all different, and some combinations were forced upon us,” he said. “We are trying to build with what we have, but we are finding some spark in certain areas, but the other side is finding that especially with the ball…”
With the season already slipping away, Mumbai Indians must regroup quickly and make decisive changes before facing Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.
Published on Apr 17, 2026
It may still be early in the season, but Mumbai Indians has already drifted into…
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#IPL #Tim #David #fined #breaching #code #conduct #Hardik #Pandya #penalised #slow #overrate">IPL 2026: Tim David fined for breaching code of conduct; Hardik Pandya penalised for slow over-rate
Royal Challengers Bengaluru all-rounder Tim David was on Monday fined 25 per cent of his match fee and docked one demerit point for “disobeying an umpire’s instruction” during the IPL game against Mumbai Indians.
David was guilty of breaching Level 1 of IPL’s code of conduct for players and team officials, while Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya was also fined for maintaining slow over-rate.
The IPL said in a statement that David was found to have breached the Article 2.4 of the IPL’s code of conduct.
Pandya was fined after RCB’s innings took a little over two hours to finish.
Also read | Prolonged interruptions, slow over-rate in MI vs RCB pose threats to the very purpose of T20s
“Hardik Pandya, Captain, MI, has been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate. As this was his team’s first offence of the season under Article 2.22 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct, he has been fined Rs 12 lakhs,” the IPL said.
In fact, the contest had players from both teams taking several pauses amid hot and humid conditions. While the first innings ended in two hours and one minute, the second innings finished in two hours and four minutes.
David is said to have not handed over the ball to the umpires twice during RCB’s innings in which the burly Australian scored a quick 16-ball 34 not out with three sixes and two fours.
“The first incident occurred when the umpires changed the ball during the 18th over (17.2) of RCB’s batting innings. He wanted to have a look at the ball and did not hand it over despite being repeatedly asked to do so,” the IPL said.
“The second incident occurred during the 20th over (19.2), when he again did not hand over the ball to the umpires, amounting to repeated failure to comply with the instructions or directives of the umpires,” the IPL said, adding that David has admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction.
Published on Apr 13, 2026
Royal Challengers Bengaluru all-rounder Tim David was on Monday fined 25 per cent of his match fee and docked one demerit point for “disobeying an umpire’s instruction” during the IPL game against Mumbai Indians.
David was guilty of breaching Level 1 of IPL’s code of conduct for players and team officials, while Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya was also fined for maintaining slow over-rate.
The IPL said in a statement that David was found to have breached the Article 2.4 of the IPL’s code of conduct.
Pandya was fined after RCB’s innings took a little over two hours to finish.
Also read | Prolonged interruptions, slow over-rate in MI vs RCB pose threats to the very purpose of T20s
“Hardik Pandya, Captain, MI, has been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate. As this was his team’s first offence of the season under Article 2.22 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct, he has been fined Rs 12 lakhs,” the IPL said.
In fact, the contest had players from both teams taking several pauses amid hot and humid conditions. While the first innings ended in two hours and one minute, the second innings finished in two hours and four minutes.
David is said to have not handed over the ball to the umpires twice during RCB’s innings in which the burly Australian scored a quick 16-ball 34 not out with three sixes and two fours.
“The first incident occurred when the umpires changed the ball during the 18th over (17.2) of RCB’s batting innings. He wanted to have a look at the ball and did not hand it over despite being repeatedly asked to do so,” the IPL said.
“The second incident occurred during the 20th over (19.2), when he again did not hand over the ball to the umpires, amounting to repeated failure to comply with the instructions or directives of the umpires,” the IPL said, adding that David has admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction.
Published on Apr 13, 2026
Royal Challengers Bengaluru all-rounder Tim David was on Monday fined 25 per cent of his…
Sports news
#IPL #lot #rethink #Hardik #Pandya #suffers #consecutive #defeat">IPL 2026: ‘A lot of things need a rethink,’ says Hardik Pandya after MI suffers third consecutive defeat
Mumbai Indians needs a major rethink after suffering a third consecutive defeat in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Sunday, said captain Hardik Pandya.
Mumbai lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 18 runs at the Wankhede Stadium, leaving the five-time champion eighth in the 10-team table with just two points from four matches.
Despite boasting several Twenty20 World Cup-winning players—including Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and Tilak Varma—Mumbai has struggled to generate any momentum.
ALSO READ | Bumrah’s wicket-less run an unpleasant confrontation for MI
“A lot of things need a rethink. But we have to see other options we can have, with the bat and the ball,” Pandya said at the post-match presentation.
“We need to still bat and bowl well. If you do that, irrespective of the toss (we should be fine).”
Mumbai’s struggles have been most evident in the PowerPlay.
The lack of early wickets and limited support for Bumrah has raised concerns about the bowling attack, with opponents able to see off the India pacer before targeting the rest.
“Last couple of games, as a bowling and batting unit, we have been catching up. Really need to reflect on what best we can do… and how to get some momentum in the PowerPlay,” Pandya said.
Suryakumar, batting at number three, is not firing on all cylinders while Varma’s failures have put more pressure on the batting unit.
Pandya could look at moving Naman Dhir up the batting order to inject intent early, while England all-rounder Will Jacks may offer better balance in place of Mitchell Santner.
Mumbai next faces Punjab Kings on Thursday, while third-placed RCB meets Lucknow Super Giants on Wednesday.
Published on Apr 13, 2026
Mumbai Indians needs a major rethink after suffering a third consecutive defeat in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Sunday, said captain Hardik Pandya.
Mumbai lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 18 runs at the Wankhede Stadium, leaving the five-time champion eighth in the 10-team table with just two points from four matches.
Despite boasting several Twenty20 World Cup-winning players—including Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and Tilak Varma—Mumbai has struggled to generate any momentum.
ALSO READ | Bumrah’s wicket-less run an unpleasant confrontation for MI
“A lot of things need a rethink. But we have to see other options we can have, with the bat and the ball,” Pandya said at the post-match presentation.
“We need to still bat and bowl well. If you do that, irrespective of the toss (we should be fine).”
Mumbai’s struggles have been most evident in the PowerPlay.
The lack of early wickets and limited support for Bumrah has raised concerns about the bowling attack, with opponents able to see off the India pacer before targeting the rest.
“Last couple of games, as a bowling and batting unit, we have been catching up. Really need to reflect on what best we can do… and how to get some momentum in the PowerPlay,” Pandya said.
Suryakumar, batting at number three, is not firing on all cylinders while Varma’s failures have put more pressure on the batting unit.
Pandya could look at moving Naman Dhir up the batting order to inject intent early, while England all-rounder Will Jacks may offer better balance in place of Mitchell Santner.
Mumbai next faces Punjab Kings on Thursday, while third-placed RCB meets Lucknow Super Giants on Wednesday.
Published on Apr 13, 2026
Mumbai Indians needs a major rethink after suffering a third consecutive defeat in the Indian…
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