Mumbai: Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya has admitted that his team’s plans are “not working” and signalled a possible overhaul after their third consecutive defeat in the Indian Premier League 2026 season.

Mumbai slumped to an 18-run loss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Wankhede Stadium, continuing a worrying trend that has pushed them down to eighth place on the points table.

‘We are always catching up’

Reflecting on the defeat, Hardik acknowledged that Mumbai Indians have struggled to dictate terms in matches.

“I think we conceded way too many runs. That meant we were always playing catch-up. In the last couple of games, both as a bowling unit and batting unit, we’ve been catching up rather than leading,” he said.

Chasing a daunting 241 after RCB piled up 240/4, MI managed 222/5 despite a blistering unbeaten 71 off 31 balls from Sherfane Rutherford.

Captain calls for urgent rethink

Hardik made it clear that the current approach needs immediate reassessment.

“To be very honest, a lot of things need to be rethought. Definitely, it’s not working. We need to look at other options as a batting group and bowling group,” he said.

Despite winning the toss in some matches, MI have failed to capitalise — a concern the captain acknowledged while hinting at tactical and possibly personnel changes in upcoming games.

Powerplay struggles a key concern

One of the major issues highlighted by Hardik was the team’s inability to gain momentum in the powerplay, both while batting and bowling.

“That’s what we are planning — how to get momentum in the powerplay. Right now, in both departments, we are trying to catch up even in that phase,” he explained.

In modern T20 cricket, the powerplay often sets the tone, and MI’s struggles in this crucial period have contributed significantly to their recent losses.

Rutherford provides a silver lining

Despite the defeat, Hardik praised Sherfane Rutherford’s explosive knock, which kept MI in the contest until the final overs.

“When we got him, we knew his potential. The way he batted gives us an extra cushion and confidence. It allows us flexibility if we want to make changes,” he said.

Rutherford’s late assault, packed with towering sixes, has emerged as a positive for MI as they look to rebuild momentum.

RCB’s strong batting sets the tone

Earlier in the match, RCB’s top order dominated proceedings, with half-centuries from Phil Salt, Virat Kohli and skipper Rajat Patidar powering them to a massive total.

Patidar credited the aggressive start provided by Kohli and Salt for putting RCB in control.

“The way Virat bhai and Salt started the innings kept us in the driving seat. It was a complete team effort,” he said.

Conclusion

With three losses on the trot, Mumbai Indians find themselves at a critical juncture early in the season. Hardik Pandya’s candid admission signals that changes could be imminent as the team searches for answers.

Unless MI address their powerplay issues and find ways to control games rather than chase them, their campaign risks slipping further. The coming matches could prove decisive in determining whether the five-time champions can turn their season around.