It may still be early in the season, but Mumbai Indians has already drifted into troubled waters, managing just one win from its first five matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL).<\/p>\n
The concern is no longer simmering;\u00a0it\u2019s out in the open. Following a seven-wicket loss to Punjab Kings at the Wankhede Stadium, captain Hardik Pandya admitted that the team may need to take \u201cdifficult\u00a0calls\u201d\u00a0if needed.<\/p>\n
Even head coach Mahela Jayawardene, typically measured in his assessments, conceded that the side is still searching for the elusive \u201cspark.\u201d He pointed to the bowling unit as a key area of concern but was quick to stress that the responsibility does not lie with the captain alone.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s just on Hardik, I think it\u2019s on every one of us when we are not doing well,\u201d Jayawardene said. \u201cIt\u2019s not an individual. It\u2019s pretty much on me, everyone involved in the management and all that to see how we can be better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite insisting that the team hasn\u2019t been completely outplayed, Jayawardene acknowledged that opposition sides have been sharper and more clinical, riding high on confidence. \u201cWe need to control the phases we can,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
While the batting unit,\u00a0particularly Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma,\u00a0has come under scrutiny for inconsistency, the bigger worry remains the lack of bite in the bowling. Jasprit Bumrah has been economical but wicketless, while Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar have failed to make a significant impact.<\/p>\n
Jayawardene also pointed to disruptions caused by injuries and availability issues. Rohit Sharma missed the last game due to injury, while Mitchell Santner was sidelined by illness.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe games we lost were all different, and some combinations were forced upon us,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are trying to build with what we have,\u00a0but\u00a0we are finding some spark in certain areas, but the other side is finding that especially with the ball\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
With the season already slipping away, Mumbai Indians must regroup quickly and make decisive changes before facing Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.<\/p>\n
Published on Apr 17, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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