Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: If we talk about the best turnaround by a team in IPL history, it has to be Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who staged a historic comeback in the IPL 2024 season. With 1-7 in their first eight matches, RCB went on to win six consecutive games and made an entry into the playoffs in style.Mumbai Indians find themselves in a similar situation in IPL 2026. They are languishing in ninth place with just two wins in eight matches, with four points and a net run rate of -0.784.
Can they turn the tide?Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin sounded dejected with the way the five-time champions have played this season and said he does not have hope for the Hardik Pandya-led side to turn things around.“I am a bit shocked. The way Mumbai Indians played in this IPL. I don’t know how this happened. My mind isn’t processing how this is even possible. We can find a reason for this. I feel sorry for them. It was my favourite before this tournament. I felt that this is the game. Mumbai Indians will come back here. But SRH didn’t give us a chance,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.When asked whether Mumbai Indians can win six of their remaining matches or if it is all over for them, Ashwin said: “I don’t have hope. I will tell you why I don’t have hope on Mumbai. Because look at their trend. They gave 220 against KKR. But no other team in this tournament gave 220 for KKR. KKR didn’t make such a big score with any other team. And if Mumbai Indians bowl first, they are giving 230-240. They are not able to chase that score down. If they are giving 220, it was 208 against Chennai. It could have been a slow wicket. But it was not more than par score. They couldn’t chase that score. So they made some changes in the wicket.”“Their batting lineup is struggling. Their bowling attack is struggling. So where will the answer come from? And when they are away from home, they are yet to find answers again. So I don’t know,” Ashwin said.Mumbai Indians have endured a mixed and largely disappointing campaign in IPL 2026.They began on a positive note, defeating Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets, but consistency has eluded them since. Losses against Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru exposed both batting and bowling concerns.The struggles continued with defeats to Punjab Kings and a crushing 103-run loss to Chennai Super Kings, highlighting their inability to compete in key moments.Their only other bright spot came in a dominant 99-run win over Gujarat Titans, showing the potential within the squad.However, another setback followed as Sunrisers Hyderabad chased down a massive target to hand MI a six-wicket defeat.With just two wins in eight matches, Mumbai Indians face an uphill task.
