Mumbai Indians (MI) faced another setback in their IPL 2025 campaign with a 12-run defeat to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Friday night. Now, this is MI’s third consecutive away defeat, continuing the challenge with the poor performance and chasing woes in the season. However, MI captain Hardik Pandya gave it all with the ball, as he took a five-wicket haul to become the first captain to do so. Despite his exceptional performance, LSG managed to post a formidable total of 207 runs.
MI owner angry on Hardik
Santner managed two runs off the last ball of the 19th over, and Hardik hit a six off the first ball of the final over but couldn’t continue the momentum. Hardik’s choice to retain strike without taking singles on the third and fourth balls of the over drew attention. MI owner Akash Ambani was visibly not pleased with Hardik’s decision not to take simple runs that might have narrowed the loss margin.
Akash Ambani was shocked that Hardik Pandya didn’t take a single
— InsideSport (@InsideSportIND) April 4, 2025: JioStar#LSGvsMI #Ekana #IPL2025 #Insidesport #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/P8lHczbwER
Mumbai’s response and tactical decisions
In their chase, MI lost their openers early but staged a fightback with quick contributions from Naman Dhir and Suryakumar Yadav. However, Tilak Varma struggled to accelerate the scoring rate, leading MI to make the unconventional decision of ‘retiring out’ Varma with seven balls remaining, sending Mitchell Santner in his place.
Impact on MI’s season
The defeat leaves MI with just one win from their first three games, placing them seventh in the IPL standings. The five-time champions have struggled in recent seasons, finishing 10th on the table in two of the last three years. Hardik Pandya, in his tenure as captain since 2024, has so far led the team in 17 matches, securing only five victories. As MI evaluates their strategies and performances, overcoming their away-game challenges remains crucial for improving their season outlook.
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