Hardik Pandya revealed the reason for Mumbai Indians’ loss against Punjab Kings:

Delhi: Mumbai Indians (Mi) captain Hardik Pandya believes that his team’s bowling was not as expected in the match played at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur against the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 in Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Punjab Kings defeated Mumbai Indians by 7 wickets and secured a place in the top-2 in the playoffs.

Batting first after losing the toss, Mumbai scored 184 runs in 20 overs. In response, Punjab chased the target with 9 balls remaining in the 19th over. Hardik Pandya described the team’s weak bowling as the reason for defeat. He also praised Punjab’s batting.

Hardik said in the post-match presentation, “I don’t think there was much difference in the pitch. He really played good cricket, especially the second wicket partnership was fantastic, when we made a mistake, he prepared a strategy in a brilliant way. Many times he also played very good shots. Overall, we were not clinicals in bowling and that was hes out.”

Hardik also said that the team remained at least 20 runs behind and could not perform their best against Punjab Kings, which caused defeat.

Hardik further said, “As the wicket showed the game, we certainly have been left behind by 20 runs, we have played good cricket so far, but today we could not give our best and it was expensive to us. IPL is like this, this franchise has won five trophy and has always been challenging, as soon as you remove your feet from the accelerator, the rest of the teams are ready to win, this will be ready and my message. Look at the knockout. This necklace will be very fresh, but overall we were 20 runs.

Now Mumbai Indians will have to play an eliminator match to stay in the final race. Hardik expressed confidence about this that the team will work on its strategy and perform well.

Pandya said, “Overall, you have to play good cricket, work on good batting, good bowling, strategies. We will decide our template. Eliminator is waiting.”

Punjab Kings will now play qualifier-1 at Mullanpur Stadium in Mohali on 29 May.

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