‘Why should Hardik shout at Tilak Verma, he said it is important for the team’, Mumbai captain got angry after four consecutive defeats in IPL 2026
Ahmedabad. Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya described the win over Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad on Monday as “very important for the team”. Hardik dismissed Jos Buttler with the ball and before that also made a partnership of 81 runs with Tilak Verma. This also broke their streak of four consecutive defeats in IPL 2026.
Tilak was the biggest star of this match. His unbeaten 101 off 45 balls helped MI score 73 runs in the last four overs and set GT a target of 200 runs. This was Tilak’s first IPL century, which included eight fours and seven sixes.
Speaking on the post-match broadcast, Hardik said, “With the talent that Tilak has, he doesn’t have to worry too much. I just kept telling him to see the ball and hit it, because I really think the way the ball comes off his bat is very special. It was time for him to come and perform.
I think I screamed so loud in the dugout that I felt a little dizzy. But it was important for the team, it was important for Tilak, it was important for Mumbai Indians. Even as a captain, I needed that kind of energy to change things.”
After these brilliant shots, now it was Jasprit Bumrah’s turn. He opened the bowling in the IPL for the first time after 2022 and dismissed B Sai Sudarshan on the very first ball. Hardik said, “Jasprit Bumrah is so special that you use him only where the team needs him. Today we thought that we have to make an impact with the new ball and there is no one better than him.”
Bumrah rarely bowls the first over. This was the seventh time in 151 IPL matches and the 16th time overall in 276 T20 matches that he did so. He opened the bowling because MI “wanted to make an impact with the new ball”. Hardik said, “I have heard many people asking why Jassi did not bowl the first over, but if you see, he has bowled the first over eight or nine times (seven). So I don’t think it is Hardik Pandya’s problem.
It’s just that Jasprit Bumrah is so special that you use him only where the team needs him and not just in the beginning. But today we realized that we have to make an impact with the new ball and there is no one better than him.” MI came into Ahmedabad with a 0-4 record against GT.
They turned it around with a massive 99-run win and the timing of the win made it even more “special”. Hardik said, “It is always challenging to go out and win. But playing in Ahmedabad has always been difficult for us. We just played good cricket and this win is very special because it was very important.
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