PBKS vs MI, IPL 2021: Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians’ worst start to IPL in last 3 years, lose 3 out of first 5 matches- Defending Champions Mumbai Indians on Friday lost to Punjab Kings at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. It was the third loss for the five-time champions in IPL 2021. As a result, MI has now lost 3 out of their first 5 matches in IPL 2021, making it their worst start to the Indian Premier League since IPL 2018. Back then, Mumbai Indians had lost 3 opening matches against CSK, SRH and DC. They had managed just one win in the first 5 matches in IPL 2018.
During that season Mumbai Indians had failed to enter the playoffs. They managed just 6 wins in 14 matches and were placed 5th in the IPL 2021 points table. With Mumbai Indians edging towards the same record, the development has raised a question mark to their quest for a hat-trick of IPL titles.
MI in IPL 2021
vs RCB: Lost by 2 wickets
vs KKR: Won by 10 runs
vs SRH: Won by 13 runs
vs DC: Lost by 6 wickets
vs Punjab Kings: Lost by 9 wickets
PBKS vs MI, IPL 2021: Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians’ worst start to IPL in last 3 years, lose 3 out of first 5 matches
The loss could be attributed to yet another failure of Mumbai’s famed middle-order. With Kieron Pollard and Hardik Pandya not firing with the bat, Mumbai lost yet another game.
After the loss, a disappointed Rohit Sharma said, “We did not get enough runs. I still feel it is not a bad wicket to bat on. You saw how they batted and won the game by 9 wickets. It is just the application that is missing in our batting. If you get 150-160 on this wicket then you are always in the game, that is something we failed to do in the last two games.”
“When you play on such a challenging pitch then you have to be ready for all the possibilities. When you try, if it works it looks good and if it doesn’t work then it looks bad, but we always back the decision we make. We are not putting enough effort on the field and when the conditions are tough you need to understand how you need to bat and how you need to bowl,” he added.
IPL 2018 MI stats- 1st 5 matches
| Team 1 | Team 2 | Winner | Margin | Ground | Match Date | Scorecard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mum Indians | Super Kings | Super Kings | 1 wicket | Mumbai | Apr 7, 2018 | T20 |
| Sunrisers | Mum Indians | Sunrisers | 1 wicket | Hyderabad (Deccan) | Apr 12, 2018 | T20 |
| Mum Indians | Daredevils | Daredevils | 7 wickets | Mumbai | Apr 14, 2018 | T20 |
| Mum Indians | RCB | Mum Indians | 46 runs | Mumbai | Apr 17, 2018 | T20 |
| Royals | Mum Indians | Royals | 3 wickets | Jaipur | Apr 22, 2018 | T20 |
NOTE: In the last two seasons of IPL, Mumbai Indians won three of their opening five matches before going on to win the IPL titles.
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