Mumbai Indians (MI) suffered a 27-run defeat against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the 13th match of the IPL 2026 season at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati on Tuesday (April 7).

MI captain Hardik Pandya opted to bowl first in the rain-hit, 11 over-a-side contest. RR racked up a massive 150/3, driven by Yashasvi Jaiswal's unbeaten 77 off 32 balls and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's 39 off 14.

During the chase, MI’s top-order collapsed to 22/3. Despite resistance from Naman Dhir and Sherfane Rutherford (both scoring 25), the five-time champions finished at 123/9.

After the loss, MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene admitted that the team failed to execute their bowling plans, especially in the early overs.

“We had some plans [for Jaiswal and Suryavanshi], but I don’t think we executed those,” said Jayawardene in the post-match press conference.

“The margins are very small. These guys are practising really well. We knew the danger, especially when it is rain-curtailed, and they have the license to go up front. I think we missed our line and lengths, and they played really well,” he added.

Jayawardene noted that MI failed to build necessary partnerships and lost early wickets, which killed their momentum. He also pointed out that the difference between two sides was essentially four hits, suggesting that the target remained reachable if they had found a better rhythm.

“We just needed a couple of partnerships. We lost a few early wickets and lost the momentum. If you look at the end, the difference was four sixes. It was four hits for us, [but] we just couldn’t find that.

“And that without us getting into a rhythm or someone getting a quick 30 or 40 up top. We never thought that it was out of our reach. So, those were the margins. I think they played a really good game today. We were not good enough, and that’s what we have to work on,” Jayawardene stated.

The coach confirmed that spinner Mitchell Santner was rested as a precaution due to a "little niggle" from the previous game but is expected to be fit for the next fixture.

“Mitch had a little niggle when he came off during the last game. So, it was a precaution that he wasn’t 100 per cent for him to play this game. But hopefully, he’ll be fit for our next game.”

Mumbai Indians next face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a blockbuster clash at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday (April 12).