IPL 2026: ‘सूर्य’ की चमक क्यों पड़ी फीकी? कभी तेज गेंदबाजों के लिए थे मुसीबत, अब उन्हीं के खिलाफ कर रहे संघर्ष
सूर्यकुमार यादव जब बल्लेबाजी करने आते हैं तो मैदान का माहौल बदल जाता है। फील्डर…
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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 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 #coach #Jayawardene #reveals #Bumrah #niggle #ahead #season #bowling">IPL 2026: MI head coach Jayawardene reveals Bumrah had niggle ahead of season, says he is bowling well
Head coach Mahela Jayawardene on Thursday backed Jasprit Bumrah despite the pace ace going wicketless in five matches on the trot, but rued Mumbai Indians’ general ineffectiveness with the ball, especially in the PowerPlay.
Bumrah was smacked for 41 runs in four overs as Punjab Kings chased down the target of 196 with 21 balls and seven wickets to spare in their Indian Premier League (IPL) contest in Mumbai on Thursday.
“Bumrah is bowling well, it is just where we are not putting pressure in the PowerPlay,” Jayawardene told reporters after the match.
“They (opposition) know they don’t need to take too much risk against Bumrah. We tried a few different things, which he is trying as well, but they are batting well. I can’t put a finger (on something) and say that he hasn’t taken a wicket.”
The former Sri Lankan captain revealed that Bumrah carried a niggle at the start of the IPL 2026 but has pulled up well since.
“I think initially because he had a slight niggle which came from the World Cup,” he replied to a query on Bumrah’s inconsistent pace.
“We wanted to build him up (and) over the last few games, his speed has gone up. We’ve looked at all that, so he’s very comfortable. Sometimes, you need a bit of luck as well. (Bumrah) Bowled some really good balls initially to Shreyas (Iyer), but wasn’t lucky enough. Once he starts taking wickets, he might not be able to stop him doing that,” Jayawardene added.
However, Jayawardene did not dismiss the fact that the MI bowlers lacked the precision so far this season.
“But as a (bowling) unit, like I said before, we’ve lacked that penetration in different surfaces and that’s something that we need to work (on) and see what we need to do,” he said.
The head coach said Rohit Sharma’s injury is not serious and the team management doesn’t want to push him as it is “still early stages” of the tournament.
“He started running yesterday (Wednesday), he batted (as well)… taking it day to day to see how he feels. He knows his body better than anybody else. It’s nothing serious, but at the same time, we don’t want to push and it’s early season still, so the medical staff will take that call,” he said.
Jayawardene refused to accept that skipper Hardik Pandya was under pressure with MI losing its fourth match in a row.
“I don’t think it’s just on Hardik, it’s on every one of us. When we’re not doing well, it’s not an individual, it’s pretty much on me, everyone who’s involved in the management to see how can we be better,” he said.
“I know we’re playing good cricket — we’re not taken out completely — but at the same time the other teams are much better, clinical, (and) obviously the confidence is high as well when they have that kind of start,” he added, referring to Arshdeep Singh’s twin strikes that reduced MI to 15 for two at early on.
Jayawardene said it was a tactical call to pair up Quinton de Kock (112) and Ryan Rickelton for the first wicket.
“We do have an Indian opener (as) backup. But the things I have had to go through from yesterday (Wednesday) to today with the illnesses in our group and trying to get the right combination, is something which only I’m privy to,” he said.
“… we’ve had quite a few unfortunate injuries, illnesses within the camp (and because of) that we’ve not been able to get everyone on the park,” he added.
Jayawardene also rued MI losing momentum towards the end with the bat, along with Deepak Chahar’s 21-run first over.
“Quinny (de Kock) batted exceptionally, and it was a good partnership. At the end, we lost a little bit of rhythm; they bowled well to pull it back. I was hoping that we could get to that 210-220 mark if we had a couple of big overs,” he said.
“Losing momentum at the back end, as well as not setting the tone in that first over, probably put us back. (It was) another big over upfront. These are areas that we needed to be sharper (in) and execution-wise it was quite poor,” Jayawardene added.
Published on Apr 17, 2026
Head coach Mahela Jayawardene on Thursday backed Jasprit Bumrah despite the pace ace going wicketless in five matches on the trot, but rued Mumbai Indians’ general ineffectiveness with the ball, especially in the PowerPlay.
Bumrah was smacked for 41 runs in four overs as Punjab Kings chased down the target of 196 with 21 balls and seven wickets to spare in their Indian Premier League (IPL) contest in Mumbai on Thursday.
“Bumrah is bowling well, it is just where we are not putting pressure in the PowerPlay,” Jayawardene told reporters after the match.
“They (opposition) know they don’t need to take too much risk against Bumrah. We tried a few different things, which he is trying as well, but they are batting well. I can’t put a finger (on something) and say that he hasn’t taken a wicket.”
The former Sri Lankan captain revealed that Bumrah carried a niggle at the start of the IPL 2026 but has pulled up well since.
“I think initially because he had a slight niggle which came from the World Cup,” he replied to a query on Bumrah’s inconsistent pace.
“We wanted to build him up (and) over the last few games, his speed has gone up. We’ve looked at all that, so he’s very comfortable. Sometimes, you need a bit of luck as well. (Bumrah) Bowled some really good balls initially to Shreyas (Iyer), but wasn’t lucky enough. Once he starts taking wickets, he might not be able to stop him doing that,” Jayawardene added.
However, Jayawardene did not dismiss the fact that the MI bowlers lacked the precision so far this season.
“But as a (bowling) unit, like I said before, we’ve lacked that penetration in different surfaces and that’s something that we need to work (on) and see what we need to do,” he said.
The head coach said Rohit Sharma’s injury is not serious and the team management doesn’t want to push him as it is “still early stages” of the tournament.
“He started running yesterday (Wednesday), he batted (as well)… taking it day to day to see how he feels. He knows his body better than anybody else. It’s nothing serious, but at the same time, we don’t want to push and it’s early season still, so the medical staff will take that call,” he said.
Jayawardene refused to accept that skipper Hardik Pandya was under pressure with MI losing its fourth match in a row.
“I don’t think it’s just on Hardik, it’s on every one of us. When we’re not doing well, it’s not an individual, it’s pretty much on me, everyone who’s involved in the management to see how can we be better,” he said.
“I know we’re playing good cricket — we’re not taken out completely — but at the same time the other teams are much better, clinical, (and) obviously the confidence is high as well when they have that kind of start,” he added, referring to Arshdeep Singh’s twin strikes that reduced MI to 15 for two at early on.
Jayawardene said it was a tactical call to pair up Quinton de Kock (112) and Ryan Rickelton for the first wicket.
“We do have an Indian opener (as) backup. But the things I have had to go through from yesterday (Wednesday) to today with the illnesses in our group and trying to get the right combination, is something which only I’m privy to,” he said.
“… we’ve had quite a few unfortunate injuries, illnesses within the camp (and because of) that we’ve not been able to get everyone on the park,” he added.
Jayawardene also rued MI losing momentum towards the end with the bat, along with Deepak Chahar’s 21-run first over.
“Quinny (de Kock) batted exceptionally, and it was a good partnership. At the end, we lost a little bit of rhythm; they bowled well to pull it back. I was hoping that we could get to that 210-220 mark if we had a couple of big overs,” he said.
“Losing momentum at the back end, as well as not setting the tone in that first over, probably put us back. (It was) another big over upfront. These are areas that we needed to be sharper (in) and execution-wise it was quite poor,” Jayawardene added.
Published on Apr 17, 2026
Head coach Mahela Jayawardene on Thursday backed Jasprit Bumrah despite the pace ace going wicketless…