Mumbai Indians have failed to live up to expectations in the last five years. In the last decade, the Rohit Sharma-led side was one of the most consistent teams in the cash-rich tournament, winning it five times. Since 2020, they have competed hard, making it to the playoffs on two occasions, but have failed to go the distance.
Ahead of their high-voltage clash against Delhi Capitals in the ongoing IPL 2026, head coach Mahela Jayawardene clarified that he isnโt too bothered by the fact and highlighted the importance of trusting the process. He noted that the franchise is taking one game at a time at the moment before rubbing it in the face of some other franchises, adding that there are teams that havenโt won the trophy ever.
โ10 teams make it even harder competition. But I think in the last 5 years, we were in the playoffs 2 or 3 times, if I am not mistaken. So that means we had our opportunities in just that last bit. In a competition like this, you have to take one game at a time and go through the process. As a team, we know that we have done well consistently over a period of time,โ Jayawardene said in the pre-match press conference.
โWe just need to continue to trust that process and keep playing good cricket. And we will get there. And how we have been successful is by doing the same thing. So I don’t see why we need to do something different. But as long as we keep pushing ourselves to the limit in every game and have the same attitude on and off the field to be a better team, a better franchise. I think the results will take care of themselves. Rather than putting ourselves under pressure at the beginning of the season, saying we haven’t won it for 4 years. But some teams haven’t won it forever either. So we are not rubbing it in. But with all due respect, we just thought that we would trust our process. And work on ourselves on how we need to go about it,โ he added.
Mumbai off to a winning start
Mumbai ended their 14-year draught and won their opening game of the IPL campaign, beating Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets. Rohit had a phenomenal outing with the bat, smacking 78 runs off 38 balls. His opening partner, Ryan Rickelton, too had a perfect outing, scoring 81 runs. Shardul Thakur, who was adjudged the Player of the Match, picked up three wickets.ย
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