Same track, same soil, should've batted better: Hardik Pandya after big loss vs CSK

Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya did not shy away from the reality of the defeat, pointing squarely at his side’s batting as the reason things unravelled.

“Yeah, I felt after losing early wickets in the powerplay in a run chase like this, it’s always going to be tricky. We could not cope up after that,” Hardik said at the post-match presentation, underlining how the early phase of the innings set the tone for the rest of the chase.

MI vs CSK: HIGHLIGHTS | SCORECARD

For a side chasing a big total, the powerplay often defines intent and direction. Mumbai, however, never found that rhythm. The early wickets meant they were constantly playing catch-up, with the pressure building rather than easing as the innings progressed.

Hardik was clear that conditions were not something he wanted to point to, even though there was some assistance for bowlers. Instead, he credited the opposition and admitted his side needed to be better.

“I would not say that. I am not someone who likes to say that. They batted well, they scored 207. It was the same track, it was the same soil, we should’ve just batted better,” he said.

It was a telling remark, one that reflected both accountability and clarity. Rather than searching for external factors, Hardik kept the focus on execution.

He also acknowledged the role played by Chennai’s bowlers, particularly how they adapted to the conditions, but maintained that Mumbai had their chances.

“Yes, they got the ball to grip. Even our spinners bowled pretty well. It’s just that, Sanju played an outstanding knock. At the same point of time, their batters kept on chipping in and got them to a decent total. I think it was more than a decent total,” he added.

The difference, as Hardik saw it, was not just in the total on the board, but in how his team approached the chase. Without a solid start, the task became increasingly difficult, and the innings never quite recovered.

“For us, to chase this target down, we needed to have a good powerplay. We just could not do it,” he said.

That inability to build momentum early meant Mumbai were always a step behind, unable to string together the kind of partnerships needed in a high chase.

Looking ahead, Hardik suggested that the focus would now shift towards reassessing and making the necessary adjustments before the next game.

“I think that will be the chat when we go back to the drawing board. We have to figure out what we need to do. We have a couple of days and we need to see what best needs to be done for the team,” he said.

For Mumbai Indians, the takeaway from their captain was straightforward. There were no complaints about the surface, no ambiguity around the result. It came down to how they handled key moments, particularly at the start of the chase. And on that front, as Hardik admitted, they simply fell short.

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