Mumbai: Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya was at a loss of words after the five-time champions slumped to their eighth defeat in the ongoing IPL 2024 following their 24-run defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday. Chasing KKR’s 169 all out Mumbai Indians were in the game till Suryakumar Yadav was out in the middle. The dismissal of the world’s no.1 T20I batter sealed the nail in their own coffin as the hosts were bowled out for 145 in 18.5 overs. The win helped KKR become the second team after Rajasthan Royals to secure seven wins in IPL 2024.

At the post-match press conference Pandya seemed as if he was groping in the dark for replies to all the unanswered questions hounding Mumbai Indians in yet another disastrous IPL season. The decision to replace national skipper Rohit Sharma with Pandya at the top of Mumbai Indians didn’t really go down well with the fans as the Baroda all-rounder was booed every time he entered the pitch.

There are a lot of questions that will take time to answer. But for now not much to say. Obviously we couldnt form partnerships and kept losing wickets. Bowlers did a fantastic job on this track Pandya said after his team lost to KKR at home for the first time in 12 years. Pandya felt that it was better to bat late evening once dew set in but Mumbai Indians failed to capitalise.

The wicket got better if Im not wrong. Dew came in the second innings. Will go through the game and see what we can do better he said. Pandya tried to put up a brave front as he spoke about fighting till the last match.

You keep fighting thats what I keep telling myself. Its challenging but you take the challenges. His opposite number Shreyas Iyer was delighted that his team is on the cusp of a play-off berth. We are (knocking at the door) at the moment. Lot of thinking would have gone behind that (had we lost today). Just got to know about the stat (of KKR not winning at Wankhede for 12 years)...

The Impact Player rule did help KKR as Manish Pandey who came in at the fall of the fifth wicket contributed 42 priceless runs. This Impact Player rule specifically helped us in this game. Manish has being eyeing an opportunity from the first game. We got to a commendable total. I told the boys that if we have got here we can defend it Iyer said.

He was all praise for the performances from spin twins Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine both of whom returning with identical figures of 2/22. Spinners were unreal absolutely spot on in executing their lines and lengths as discussed in team meetings. Kudos to them Iyer said.