MI Team captain Hardik Pandya admits the team hasn’t offered much this season for fans to cheer about. MI has been struggling on the field, and on Wednesday, they put up 243/5, their highest first-innings total in IPL history. However, the five-time IPL champions could not defend it as Sunrisers Hyderabad chased it down with six balls to spare.
Hardik Pandya Breaks Silence After MI Loss
Along with their bowlers’ performance, MI has faced fitness problems during IPL 2026. As a result, they have lost six of their eight matches and currently sit in 9th place in the standings.
“I think we have not given them (fans) many chances to support us,” Pandya told broadcasters after the match. “But yeah, they have been quite fantastic. They have been loyal. It hurts when the opposing team comes and starts chanting their names. We need to entertain them more to earn their love and trust.”
What he said about fans?
“Yes, I think it’s been that kind of season. When you get a number of chances, you need to take them. That’s when luck and momentum shift. If you don’t, it hurts, but it’s still fine. All the boys tried really hard and gave everything, but it didn’t work out,” Hardik Pandya said.
MI used six bowlers in their unsuccessful attempt to defend the large total, and none performed well, including Jasprit Bumrah, who went wicketless in four overs and gave up 54 runs.
“I think this season we don’t have many options,” Pandya said. “We really need to see what we can do differently. I won’t blame my bowlers. As a unit, we have not done what the MI team stand for.”
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