Mumbai Indians skipper admits bowlers had little room on a flat Wankhede pitch; praises Tilak Varma and welcomes Bumrah’s return in high-scoring IPL 2025 clash
Mumbai, April 8: Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya expressed disappointment after his team fell just short in a thrilling 12-run loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Wankhede Stadium in their IPL 2025 fixture on Monday night.
RCB, led by Rajat Patidar, put up a massive total of 221/5, which proved just out of reach despite a spirited fightback from Tilak Varma (56) and Hardik Pandya (42). The loss marks MI’s first home defeat to RCB in over a decade, and their fourth defeat of the season.
“It was a run-fest. The wicket was really good. Again we fell short with just two hits,” said Hardik during the post-match presentation. “It came down to execution in the end. I don’t want to be too harsh on the bowlers — they had very little room to operate on this pitch.”
🔁 Rohit’s Return & Impact Player Role
Rohit Sharma, who missed MI’s previous game due to a leg impact injury, returned to the XI as an impact player. He opened the innings but managed just 17 runs off 9 balls. Addressing his role, Hardik clarified:
“Ro wasn’t available last game, so we had to shuffle. Once he returned, we reverted to the original combination.”
🙌 Praise for Tilak Varma & Clarity on Tactical Calls
Hardik also lauded Tilak Varma, who returned to form with a powerful fifty, and addressed criticism over Tilak being “retired out” in a previous game:
“Last game, people talked a lot. But not many knew he had a nasty hit on his finger. It was a tactical call. Today, he was outstanding.”
💥 Bumrah’s Return a Boost
Jasprit Bumrah made his much-awaited return for MI, finishing with economical figures of 0/29 in 4 overs, despite not picking up a wicket.
“Having him in the side makes any team special. He came in and did the job,” Hardik said.
🔚 A Call for Positivity
Concluding with a motivational note, Hardik said:
“In life, never back down. Always look at the positive side, and go out there backing yourself. We’re all supporting each other — just waiting for the results to fall in place.”
With this loss, MI remain at the lower half of the table, while RCB move to the third spot after registering their first win at Wankhede in 10 years.