Hardik Pandya Reveals Root Cause For Mumbai Indians' Crushing Defeat vs CSK

Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav (Source: AFP)In the 44th match of the ongoing IPL 2026, Mumbai Indians faced Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on May 2. In what is often dubbed the league’s 'El Clasico,' it was CSK who once again dominated proceedings and secured an emphatic eight-wicket victory.After the loss, MI skipper Hardik Pandya openly pointed towards his team's batting struggles as a major reason behind another disappointing result. This defeat leaves MI languishing near the bottom of the table, while CSK keeps its campaign alive with a much-needed win. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Kartik Sharma guide CSK to victoryMumbai Indians, after winning the toss, opted to bat first but failed to capitalise on the decision. Despite a promising start in the powerplay, they could only manage 159/7 in their 20 overs. Contributions from Ryan Rickelton (37) and Naman Dhir (57) helped them reach a modest total, but the rest of the batting lineup failed to build momentum.CSK's bowling unit delivered a disciplined performance, with Anshul Kamboj taking 3 wickets and Noor Ahmad adding 2 to restrict MI effectively.Also Read: "Mahika Ka Chakkar": Hardik Pandya Struggle In MI vs CSK Gets Fans Bash 'Aura King'In response, CSK made the chase look comfortable. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad led from the front with an unbeaten 67, while young sensation Kartik Sharma impressed with a fluent 54*. The duo stitched together a match-winning partnership, chasing down the target in just 18.1 overs. Hardik Pandya fails to revive MI's inningsMumbai's innings lacked acceleration in the latter half, and the inability of the middle and lower order to finish strongly proved costly. After the match, Hardik Pandya did not shy away from expressing his disappointment with the batting unit."At one point, we were looking to get 180-190. We could not get the momentum post the first 10 overs and we could not get the finish either."He further explained the challenges faced by the batters - "(Reasons behind it?) It was not easy to go and play your shots straightaway. It was more about playing calculative cricket. The batters could not get under the ball (in the final overs). They bowled better and our batting not up to the mark." he added.When asked about the bowling approach, Hardik Pandya added with a hint of sarcasm - "(Could they have been more aggressive with the ball?) I don't know what aggressive we could have been. We would have had to throw fireballs at them (giggles). Whatever bowling options we had, we tried. They played smart cricket." Hardik Pandya added. His remarks clearly reflected frustration, as Mumbai's experienced lineup, including players like Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma, failed to deliver under pressure.However, captain Hardik Pandya himself failed to add quick runs, managing just 18 off 23 balls at the strike-rate of 78.26.What is the Mumbai Indians’ qualification scenario in IPL 2026?With this defeat, Mumbai Indians, under Hardik Pandya's captaincy, are in 9th place in the IPL 2026 standings, having won just two out of their nine matches so far. Their campaign has been far from ideal, and their chances of reaching the IPL 2026 playoffs are now extremely slim.The team has five matches remaining in the league stage, and their path to qualification is very clear. MI must win all five of its remaining games to stay in contention. Even then, their fate may depend on other results and the net run rate.For a franchise that has historically been one of the most successful in IPL history, this season has turned into a struggle. Unless they can produce a dramatic turnaround, Mumbai Indians are on the verge of an early exit from IPL 2026.Also Read: Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Hyderabad, Pitch Report, Weather Report for SRH vs KKR Match 45, IPL 2026