R Ashwin Criticises Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2026 Performance, Highlights Team Failures
Ashwin criticises Mumbai Indians’ poor IPL 2026 campaign performance.
The Mumbai Indians endured a disappointing IPL 2026 campaign, finishing ninth on the points table after a season marked by inconsistent performances from several key players. The five-time champions struggled to find rhythm throughout the tournament, with underwhelming returns from captain Hardik Pandya, senior batter Suryakumar Yadav, and lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah contributing to a campaign that fell well short of expectations.
The franchise ended its season on a low note, losing its final match to the Rajasthan Royals despite being in a strong position during the chase. Mumbai needed 60 runs from 34 balls at one stage, with Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav at the crease, but a lower-order collapse saw the team finish at 175/9, sealing another frustrating defeat in an already difficult season.
Former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin, speaking on his YouTube channel, offered a blunt assessment of Mumbai Indians’ performance. He highlighted the team’s inability to close out matches and pointed to the lack of consistency among senior players as a key reason behind their struggles. Ashwin noted that the team, traditionally known for chasing down tight totals at venues like the Wankhede Stadium, failed to deliver in crucial moments this season.
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Ashwin also analysed Hardik Pandya’s form and suggested that the captain appeared to struggle against certain bowling lengths, particularly short-pitched deliveries. He added that key dismissals during the final game shifted momentum away from Mumbai Indians, preventing what could have been a successful chase alongside Suryakumar Yadav.
The former spinner further described Mumbai Indians’ overall campaign as “strange,” pointing out that several players did not appear to be operating at their usual standards. He suggested that structural issues within the squad may have contributed to the poor results and cautioned that the franchise could face continued challenges if underlying issues are not addressed ahead of future seasons.
Ashwin also highlighted a statistical concern around Jasprit Bumrah’s performance, noting an unusually high bowling average during the season. He remarked that Mumbai Indians looked far from their dominant best and concluded that while improvement is possible, another underwhelming campaign would not be surprising if the current issues persist.
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