Nothing seems to be working for the most successful side in the Indian Premier League. The five-time champions, Mumbai Indians suffered a seven-wicket defeat against Royal Challengers Bangalore in match 18 of IPL 2022 on Saturday. The defeat, their fourth, left Rohit Sharma & Co with a mountain to climb in their bid to qualifyಌ for the IPL playoffs.
After the defeat in Pune on Saturday, Roh𓃲it, while admitting that they are not being able to field the best possible XI, said that "Just went with the combination that would be ideal. We chose the best from whatever we had."
Mumbai Indians went with only two overseas players -- Sou💖th African youngster Dewald Brevis and veteran West 𝔍Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard -- a historic first for the team. Jaydev Unadkat replaced Tymal Mills, while Daniel Sams made way for Ramandeep Singh.
But the move backfired. Ramandeep managed a 12-ball 6, while Unadkat hit 13 off 14 before returning with figures of 1/30 even as Brevis scored 8 off 11 and Pollard got a firstཧ-ball duck.
Asked to bat first, Mumbai however got off to a ꧒good start with Rohit (26 off 15) and Ishan Kishan (26 off 28) stitching a 50-run opening stand. Then they lost four wickets for two runs before a late flourish from Suryakumar Yadav (68 not out off 37) gave the 🥀total a look of respectability.
"I wanted to bat as long as possible but got out at the wrong time. We had gotten off to a 50-run partnership but got out at the wrong time. That is hurting us a little bit," Rohit 🅷lamented after the match.
But again, a total of 151/6 was not enough to intimidate a star-studded♔ RCB battin🌞g line-up. Faf du Plessis & Co eventually overhauled the target in 18.3 overs for their third win of the season.
"Definitely not a 150-run pitch, Surya showed us you can do that if you bat sensibly. Credit to Surya, but we knew it wasnܫ't going to be enough," the 34-year-old hail🦄ed Suryakumar.
Mumbai Indians sit ninth in the ten-team IPL points table with Chennai Super Kings, also winless in four, at the bo🍷ttom of the pile. Mumbai have lost to Delhi Capitals by four wickets, Rajasthan Roy🥀als by 23 runs and Kolkata Knight Riders by five wickets.
T𝓰hey next play Punjab King♐s (two wins in four) at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on Wednesday (April 13).
This is Mumbai Indians' joint-second worst start to an IPL season. In 2014, they lost the first five matches ▨but still made the play-offs. The following season, they lost the first four matches, yet ended up winning the title.
