Rohan Gavaskar questions MI’s strategy after loss to RR in IPL 2026

Former Indian batter Rohan Gavaskar questioned Hardik Pandya’s captaincy after Mumbai Indians suffered a 27-run loss against Rajasthan Royals at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati on Tuesday.

Pandya gave the first over of the innings to Deepak Chahar, who was taken for 22 runs by Yashasvi Jaiswal. Bumrah was then given the second over but the ace pacer also received a similar treatment as he was hit for two sixes by Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Jaiswal and Suryavanshi added 80 runs for the opening stand and RR went on to post 150 runs in 11 overs.

Gavaskar reckons Pandya missed a trick and he should have given the first over to Jasprit Bumrah.

“I think if they had started the first over with Jasprit Bumrah, then maybe something could have been different. Because the kind of momentum RR got, the first over went for 22 runs. If Bumrah had bowled the first over and if it was not a 22-run over, and instead only a 10-12 run over. the momentum would not have been that huge,” Rohan Gavaskar said on Cricbuzz.

Gavaskar said MI were never in the run-chase when they lost early wickets in the run-chase of 151.

“There was not a single time in this run chase where you felt that Mumbai could win this. There was a chance before the run chase, there was a chance with 150, since there was a strong batting line up, but after the first ball, it became clear that there was no chance at all. After that, they were always behind,” he added.

Gavaskar and former Indian fast bowler Mohit Sharma praised Yashasvi Jaiswal for playing a mature knock. Jaiswal scored a brilliant knock of 77 runs off just 32 balls, including 10 fours and four maximums.

“He is already a brilliant T20 player, not that he was not a great T20 player earlier. The one thing he has done really well that he has told himself that he is the senior player of this team. So, he has taken the responsibility of a senior player,” Rohan Gavaskar said.

“We can see his maturity clearly. His innings tells us how mature he has become while playing. It also shows his consistency. From his record for the last three years, you can see that he is consistent. He is on the same track this season as well,” Mohit Sharma said.

Rajasthan Royals will next take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati on Friday.