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Mumbai Indians (MI) slumped to their seventh defeat of IPL 2024 after falling short by 24 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday. Despite bowling out KKR for a modest 169, MI’s batting woes continued, resulting in their capitulation for just 145 runs.
KKR Set Below-Par Total
KKR batsmen, with the exception of Venkatesh Iyer‘s 70 and Manish Pandey‘s 42, failed to capitalize against a disciplined MI bowling attack. Jasprit Bumrah (3/18) and Nuwan Thushara (3/42) emerged as the top wicket-takers for the home team.
MI Batting Crumbles Again
However, MI’s batting woes continued to haunt them. Openers Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan departed for cheap scores of 11 and 13, respectively. While Surya Kumar Yadav‘s knock of 56 runs offered a glimmer of hope, the lack of partnerships proved costly once in the end.
For KKR, Mitchell Starc (4/33) picked up a four-wicket haul, while Sunil Narine (2/22), Varun Chakaravarthy (2/22) and Andre Russell (2/30) shared six scalps among them.
Also WATCH: Mitchell Starc bowls an absolute ripper to send Ishan Kishan’s leg stump for a walk | IPL 2024
Hardik Pandya Seeks Improvement Despite Narrow Window
Speaking after the defeat, MI skipper Hardik Pandya acknowledged the challenges but vowed to keep fighting. “You keep fighting, that’s what I tell myself,” he said in the post-match presentation. “Never leave the battlefield. Tough days come, but good days come here too. It’s challenging, but challenges make you better.”
While acknowledging the bowlers’ efforts on a difficult pitch, Pandya pinpointed the lack of partnerships as a major reason for the loss. “Obviously, we couldn’t form partnerships and kept losing wickets,” he admitted. “There are a lot of questions that will take time to answer. But for now, not much to say. Bowlers did a fantastic job on this track.”
MI’s Playoff Hopes Fade
With this loss, MI’s chances of qualifying for the playoffs look increasingly slim. They currently sit at a disappointing ninth position on the IPL 2024 points table. However, Pandya’s fighting spirit suggests that the team might not throw in the towel just yet. The upcoming matches will be crucial in determining whether MI can salvage some pride and end the season on a high note.
