Hardik Pandya admits MI failed to 'cope' with pressure of chase vs CSK after losing early wickets

It was a rough night for the Mumbai Indians after the Chennai Super Kings invaded the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday and secured a statement victory. The MI fans were left silent over their critical missteps during the IPL's El Clásico, highlighting major flaws in the team's gameplay and tactics.

As a result, MI endured yet another rough setback in the season after pulling off a brief turnaround in their previous outing against the Gujarat Titans. On Thursday night, Hardik Pandya endured a 103-run defeat to CSK, exposing their batting inconsistencies.

Hardik regrets missed chances after losing to CSK

While speaking on the Mumbai Indians' loss, captain Hardik Pandya pointed out that losing early wickets in the powerplay was tricky. He added that they could not cope with the setbacks during the chase.

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"I think that in the powerplay, losing that early wicket is always going to be tricky. You are always chasing the game, and we could not cope after that," Hardik Pandya said at the post-match presentation.

When asked whether the pitch changed in any way, the MI skipper said that it was the same track where CSK batted well, but they failed to do so.

"I would not say that. I’m not someone who would like to say that. They batted well; they scored 207. It was the same track, it is the same soil. We should have just batted well," the MI skipper added.

CSK secures mega victory over MI

The Chennai Super Kings had gained a superior grip since the start, with Sanju Samson's rugged 54-ball 101. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sarfaraz Khan played brief impactful knocks to help the franchise reach a competitive 207/6.

CSK's bowling attack triggered a major batting collapse, with impact player Akeal Hosein registering a majestic 4/17 spell. The Chennai bowlers consistently maintained pressure on the opposition, dismissing key MI batters.

For MI, Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma briefly forged a partnership before being brought down as the franchise was restricted to 104.

The Chennai Super Kings have moved up to fifth in the IPL 2026 points table following the grand victory. The Ruturaj Gaikwad-led side will return to action against the Gujarat Titans on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.