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Mumbai Indians Team (Source: AFP)
The Mumbai Indians endured a disappointing outing in the IPL 2026 as they suffered a 27-run defeat against the Rajasthan Royals on April 7 in Guwahati. The match, played at Barsapara Stadium, was reduced to 11 overs per side due to rain, making it a fast-paced contest.
Batting first, Rajasthan Royals made the most of the conditions, posting a strong total of 150/3. Star opener Yashasvi Jaiswal led the charge with a brilliant unbeaten 77, well supported by young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Mumbai struggled to keep up with the scoring rate and eventually fell short.
Earlier in the match, Hardik Pandya won the toss and opted to bowl first, and the MI think tank made three changes.
Hardik Pandya, Trent Boult, and Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar were included in the playing XI in place of Sherfane Rutherford, Corbin Bosch and Mitchell Santner.
Why was Mitchell Santner not playing in MI vs RR clash?
Mitchell Santner was ruled out of the MI vs RR clash due to a niggle in his right shoulder. The injury occurred during Mumbai's previous match against the Delhi Capitals at Arun Jaitley Stadium, where he hurt himself while diving to stop a boundary.
Head coach Mahela Jayawardene later confirmed that the decision to rest him was precautionary, stating that the player was not fully fit. With no direct replacement available for the playing XI, Mumbai clearly felt the impact of his absence.
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"Mitch, in the last game, had a little niggle when he came off," Jayawardene said. "As a precaution, he wasn't a hundred percent ready to play this game. Hopefully, he will be fit for our next game."
Mitchell Santner leaves a hole for MI to fill
The absence of a key all-round option, Mitchell Santner, left Mumbai Indians slightly unbalanced. Captain Hardik Pandya returned to the side after illness, while Trent Boult was also brought back.
The team also included Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar as a specialist spinner, but the combination lacked the flexibility usually provided by an experienced all-rounder.
It is important to note that the same Cricbuzz report stated that MI is set for another boost, as Will Jacks is expected to join the squad soon.
"Will still hasn't joined the squad, we are hoping he will join pretty soon," the head coach said.
Mumbai Indian's journey so far in IPL 2026
Mumbai Indians had a tough start to their IPL 2026 season. The team has now lost two matches in a row, which has affected their position on the points table.
Out of the three matches played so far, MI have won only one. They are currently placed seventh, and their net run rate is lower than that of Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants.
The Mumbai-based franchise will next face the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, on April 12, 2026, at the Wankhede Stadium.
However, this will not be an easy game for the Mumbai Indians. RCB, the defending champions, are in excellent form this season. They have won both of their matches so far and will enter the contest with confidence.
MI will need to fix their mistakes quickly if they want to stay strong in the tournament.
Also Read: Mumbai Indians Drop Worrying Update On Will Jacks For IPL 2026
