Ahmedabad witnessed a heartbroken Hardik Pandya as his Mumbai Indians side crashed out of IPL 2025 following a five-wicket defeat to Punjab Kings in Qualifier 2. In a brutally honest assessment after the match, the MI skipper took full responsibility for his team’s inability to close out the high-stakes encounter, emphasizing the critical need for “great execution” in pressure situations.
Mumbai Indians, batting first, had posted a competitive total of 203 for 6, a score Pandya believed was “par” on the Ahmedabad surface. However, Punjab Kings, propelled by a sensational captain’s knock from Shreyas Iyer (87* off 41 balls), chased it down with an over to spare. This marked the first time in MI’s history they failed to defend a 200+ total, a statistic that underscores the depth of their bowling woes in this crucial match.
“I take the blame,” Pandya stated in the post-match presentation, his voice subdued. “Shreyas batted beautifully. It was a par score, but our execution fell short when it mattered most. That’s on me.”
Pandya pointed to specific tactical decisions and the overall bowling performance as key areas where MI faltered. When questioned about the deployment of star bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who went wicketless and conceded 40 runs, Pandya reflected on the timing. “If we bowled Bumrah earlier, it might have been better, but it might have been a little too early instead,” he explained. “Knowing Boom, the situation even if 18 balls are left, Jassi can be Jassi and do something special. Unfortunately didn’t happen today.”
His comments suggest a dilemma in balancing Bumrah’s impact across the innings, ultimately leading to a late deployment that couldn’t stem the flow of runs from an in-form Iyer. The MI skipper also praised Iyer’s aggressive yet calculated batting, acknowledging that Punjab Kings “were really calm, put us under pressure, and we couldn’t execute the way we wanted.”
This candid admission from Pandya comes amidst a season where he returned to lead Mumbai Indians under immense scrutiny, inheriting the captaincy from Rohit Sharma. The team had a rocky start but managed to claw their way back into contention, finishing fourth on the points table. However, their journey ended a step shy of the final, leaving a five-year gap since their last IPL triumph.
The defeat, particularly the manner in which they failed to defend a strong total, highlights the areas Mumbai Indians will need to address in the off-season. Hardik Pandya’s blunt assessment signals a clear understanding of the shortcomings, and his willingness to shoulder the responsibility will be crucial as the franchise looks to bounce back stronger in the next edition. For now, Mumbai Indians’ hunt for their sixth IPL title continues.
Hardik Pandya Expresses Reason For Historic Defeat, Calls for “Great Execution” After Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2025 Exit
