IPL 2026: Mumbai Indians paying the price for recurring chasing failures

Mumbai Indians (MI) are again enduring a torrid season in the Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026), having won just two out of their seven matches so far. The Hardik Pandya-led side came into the ongoing edition, having arguably the strongest squad on paper, with hopes of restoring their old legacy.

However, the reality has been far from expectations, with the five-time champions being outplayed in most of their fixtures. Out of the five losses this season, three have come while chasing for MI, an area which has become a grave concern for the side over the past four years.

Since 2022, MI have the joint-worst chasing record in IPL history, losing 23 out of 39 matches, batting second with a win percentage of 41.02%, which has further sunk to 35% since 2024 (worst among all ten teams).

A team once feared for its batting depth has now suffered most defeats since 2022, losing 39 out of their 67 matches and winning only 28. This decline marks a dramatic shift from the standards once set by Mumbai.

Between 2010 and 2021, they possessed the second-best chasing record in the tournament. During that 12-year period, MI won 54 out of 86 matches, while chasing, boasting a win percentage of 62.79%, only bettered by CSK (66.25%).

How did MI become poor chasers?

The plummeting chasing prowess in recent seasons inevitably raises the question: what has changed for MI? Rohit Sharma (2786 runs) and Suryakumar Yadav (1767 runs) are the top two highest run scorers for MI in chases. Yet, there was another figure who quietly became central to their reputation as one of the most formidable chasing sides in the league.

He was the legendary West Indies all-rounder, Kieron Pollard, who’s Mumbai’s third-highest run scorer in chases with 1550 runs to his name at an average of 29.8 and a strike rate of 151.21 with nine fifties to his name.

It’s in Mumbai’s successful run chases where Pollard’s influence becomes even more striking. The right-handed batter again remains the third-highest run scorer for MI in their victorious run chases with 857 runs from 36 innings.

However, his average and strike rate are where everything changes as Pollard scored a blistering strike rate of 170.71, averaging 45.1 with six fifties in winning causes.

Mumbai Indians’ record in chases before signing Pollard

Mumbai Indians’ record in chases after signing Pollard

Mumbai Indians’ record in chases without Pollard

Mumbai Indians’ record in chases since 2024

The numbers clearly reveal that MI have lacked a finisher of Pollard’s calibre in recent years, capable of not only absorbing pressure but also of turning difficult run chases into routine victories. With Pollard at the crease, no target seemed out of reach as he had mastered the art of shifting momentum in a matter of deliveries.

What's the way forward for MI?

Mumbai still possess proven match-winners in their team, but they often falter in run chases, struggling to replicate the clarity and authority that once defined the side in pressure situations. The poor form of Suryakumar Yadav and the unavailability of their most senior pro in Rohit Sharma have only added to the woes.

With half the season gone, MI need to script their usual dramatic turnaround to save their campaign. However, for that, the players need to take a lot more responsibility and play out of their skins to restore the legacy of the team that instilled fear in their opponents, even before stepping on the field.