Back to winning ways after four defeats in a row, a relieved Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya did not hold back as he addressed criticism over MI’s Jasprit Bumrah’s limited usage with the new ball in the ongoing IPL 2026. With questions mounting over why Bumrah had not been given the first over earlier in the season, Pandya brushed aside the debate with a pointed remark.
“It’s quite fascinating. I see a lot of people asking why Jassi isn’t bowled up front, but he’s only bowled the first over seven or eight times in 140-odd games. So it’s not a Hardik Pandya problem, it’s an everybody problem,” Pandya said after Mumbai’s emphatic win over Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.
The comment came on a night when Bumrah finally broke his wicket-less run, striking with the very first ball of the innings to dismiss Sai Sudharsan. Gujarat never recovered from that early jolt and were bowled out for 100 in 15.5 overs, handing Mumbai a commanding 99-run victory.
Bumrah, who had endured a lean start to the season with five matches without a wicket, looked back to his incisive best. His spell of 3-0-15-1 may not have been headline-grabbing in numbers, but it set the tone for a dominant bowling performance. Having posted 199 for five, Mumbai needed early control, and Pandya’s call to hand Bumrah the new ball paid off.
Interestingly, it was only the seventh time in his IPL career that Bumrah opened the bowling, highlighting Pandya’s point that the strategy is not a fixed template but a situational call. On Monday, it worked to perfection as Mumbai registered their first-ever win against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad after four previous defeats.
The foundation for the win, however, was laid by Tilak Varma’s stunning maiden IPL hundred. The left-hander finished unbeaten on 101 off just 45 balls, reaching the milestone with a boundary off the final delivery of the innings. His knock rescued Mumbai from a sluggish phase and powered them to a formidable total.
Pandya revealed that a mid-innings chat with Tilak proved decisive. At one stage, Tilak was 19 off 22 balls, struggling for fluency, before shifting gears dramatically.
“The message was simple. The kind of talent Tilak has, he doesn’t have to worry. Just watch the ball and hit the ball. It was about time he delivered. It was much needed for him, the group and Mumbai Indians,” Pandya said.
The victory, Mumbai’s first in Ahmedabad, could prove to be a turning point in their campaign. “It’s always challenging to go away and win, and Ahmedabad has been a tough place for us. This feels very special because it was much needed. Hopefully, this is the match from where things start falling into place,” Pandya added.
For Gujarat Titans, it was a night to forget. Captain Shubman Gill admitted his side lost control in the middle overs, conceding 95 runs in the last six overs.
“Honestly, we gave away too many runs in the middle overs. On a wicket like that, 160-170 was a par score,” Gill said, also pointing out inconsistencies in their bowling lengths.
He was equally critical of the batting effort despite the presence of dew. “We could have batted better. But it’s a small hiccup. We have a couple of games on the road and hopefully we’ll come back in winning form,” he added.
