The outcome of MI v RR game will decide PBKS's fate in IPL 2026 playoffs race.
MI will face Rajasthan Royals (RR) in their final league stage game in Mumbai on May 24, 2026, and if they win the game, PBKS will go through to the IPL 2026 playoffs. However, if RR wins, then they remain in contention for qualification for the final four.
There is also KKR, which can go past PBKS on net run rate with a massive win over Delhi Capitals, even if RR loses to MI.
Chahal noted that keeping the group's faith during the downturn was the hardest part of getting back to winning ways after over a month.
“When you win six of your first seven matches and then go on to lose the next six, after a point, there's nothing left to say. How you keep the team together and the environment close-knit becomes key. So, there were never any negative thoughts. Even during practice, the focus was on us and how we could get those two points because it had been almost a month since we last won a game. So, this win feels special,” Chahal said on JioHotstar after the game.
However, Chahal made a joke about temporarily switching allegiances for the match at Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.
“We will be in Lucknow only. Hopefully, RR lose tomorrow, and Rohit Sharma scores 200 directly; it's been a long time,” he said.
Chahal then stated that if MI gets Vaibhav Sooryavanshi out early, they might have a chance to defeat Rajasthan while analysing the playoff permutations and Mumbai's chances.
“But on a serious note, I think our chances depend more on the day game because KKR might have to chase down a total in 11-12 overs, which can be a bit difficult. It's Wankhede, a small ground, so if they get Vaibhav out cheaply, I think Mumbai Indians' chances of winning will be high,” the spinner stated.
Chahal also talked about the challenges bowlers face in modern T20 cricket, with flatter pitches, aggressive batting tactics, and impact player rules tilting the odds in batters’ favour.
“Earlier, you used to get a little bit of turn and assistance from the wickets, but in the last two years, I don't think the wickets have offered much help. Maybe apart from Hyderabad, where I got it to grip a bit because it was slow and the boundaries were big. But apart from that, every ground seems to be flat,” Chahal stated.
According to Chahal, the rise in scoring rates has fundamentally changed the way bowlers approach games.
“Earlier, teams were okay with a 50-run powerplay, but these days, 65-70 has become the norm. That means when I come on to bowl, I'm often bowling to a set batter already on 40 or 50, and then there's an extra batter to counter because of the impact player rule. So, as a bowler, you are under immense pressure. Even when a team is six or seven wickets down, you know there are still batters to come. So, it is challenging,” he added.
Chahal thinks skill still enables bowlers to be effective in high-scoring situations, even though the tournament is becoming more batter-friendly.
“But I still feel that if you have skill, you can bowl well. Because of these high scores, if a bowler goes for 40 in four overs, it's not considered bad these days,” he concluded.
(IANS inputs)