Mumbai Indians (MI) on Sunday (September 26) suffered their third successive defeat in the second phase of IPL 2021 as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) thrashed them by 54 runs at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Chasing 166 to win, the defending champions got off to a flying start as the duo of Rohit Sharma (43) and Quinton de Kock (24) added 57 runs for the opening wicket.
However, once they got out, MI’s batting line-up fell like a pack of cards. None of them managed to touch the double-digit mark and the innings eventually folded for 111 in 18.1 overs.
WATCH - Virat Kohli consoles a very dejected Ishan Kishan after MI lost to RCB
For RCB, Harshal Patel claimed a hat-trick and returned with the figures of 4/17 in his 3.1 overs while Yuzvendra Chahal (3/11) and Glenn Maxwell (2/23) took five wickets between them.
Speaking after the game, MI skipper Rohit acknowledged that it was the batting effort that let them down.
"Thought it was a fantastic bowling effort. Looked like they were going to get 180. The batters just let us down. The opening issue has been happening consistently. We have to make sure that the batters carry on," he said in the post-match presentation ceremony.
Rohit felt he played a bad shot to get out and his dismissal was a game-changing moment. Maxwell got the prized scalp of the MI captain on 43, which triggered a collapse.
"I played a bat shot today and got out; I felt that was the game-changing moment. We need to find ways to bounce back from whatever situations we are in.”
Rohit backed Ishan Kishan, who scored 12-ball 9 against RCB to bounce back in the upcoming matches. The southpaw is struggling for runs in the IPL 2021 season as he has made only 107 runs from 8 innings.
"Kishan is a talented player, we just need to understand the freedom he needs, and need to provide him with that. He had a terrific IPL last year... We wanted to give him the opportunity. He is relatively young and making his way into international cricket," he stated.
With 6 losses from 10 games, Mumbai Indians are languishing at the seventh position on the IPL 2021 points table. They will take on Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their next match on Tuesday (September 28).
(With India Today Inputs)
