IPL 2026: 'Not the season' - Hardik Pandya expresses discontent after CSK annihilate MI

NEW DELHI: Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya admitted IPL 2026 has simply not gone according to plan after MI slumped to an eight-wicket defeat against Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday.

“Not the season. They played better, they bowled better, they fielded better and they batted better. 180-190 should have been a good total. We couldn't get the momentum. It was more about playing calculative cricket. Overall, as a bowling unit, they were better and as a batting unit, we weren't better. The bowling options which we had, we went with it,” Hardik said after the loss.

The defeat further damaged Mumbai Indians’ fading playoff hopes as they suffered their seventh loss of the season. Despite winning the toss and choosing to bat first, MI never truly gained control of the match and finished with a below-par 159 for 7.

Naman Dhir was the lone bright spot for Mumbai with a fighting 57 off 37 balls, while Ryan Rickelton added 37 at the top. However, captain Hardik struggled for fluency, managing just 18 runs from 23 deliveries as MI repeatedly lost momentum during the middle overs.

CSK’s bowling attack kept things tight throughout the innings. Afghanistan spinner Noor Ahmad starred with figures of 2/26, while Anshul Kamboj impressed with 3/32. Chennai also produced sharp work in the field, highlighted by IPL debutant Ramakrishna Ghosh’s stunning diving catch to dismiss Will Jacks early.

In reply, CSK made the chase look comfortable. Although Sanju Samson fell early to Jasprit Bumrah, skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad anchored the innings superbly with an unbeaten 67 off 48 balls. Young batter Kartik Sharma provided strong support with a composed 54 not out, while Urvil Patel’s quick 24 helped maintain the momentum.

The unbeaten 98-run partnership between Gaikwad and Sharma guided Chennai home with 11 balls to spare and significantly boosted CSK’s playoff chances, while MI’s campaign now hangs by the thinnest of threads.