In the IPL 2026 match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Mumbai Indians (MI) suffered a loss by 18 runs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Despite the loss, MI`s Sherfane Rutherford stole the show by showcasing towering maximums. Facing just 31 balls, he smashed an unbeaten 71 runs, laced with a boundary and nine maximums.
Speaking after the loss, he feels that the opposition teams have been batting well against the “Paltan”.
“It`s definitely not a concern. If we be honest, other teams bat well. I think we need to give credit where it`s due. I think the guys bat well,” he told the reporters.
“As I said, it`s just a small margin for us. We are probably two fields changing or something in the field. I don`t think it`s much to do with our bowlers. I think it`s just about executing and getting better,” added Rutherford.
The left-handed batsman also said that the important thing for MI is to keep learning from the minor setback.
“I think it`s just small margins. As a team, I think our preparation has been good; as a unit, I think we have been preparing well. It`s just small margins. I think the last game was a matter of fact of 3-4-8s. Same thing in this game, about 3-4-8s. I think what is important for us is to keep learning,” said the 27-year-old cricketer.
This was the Mumbai Indians` third loss in four matches by far. With one win and three defeats, the “Paltan” has been placed in the eighth position with a net run rate (NRR) of -0.772 and two points.
MI will now gear up to lock horns with Punjab Kings (PBKS) on April 16 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
IPL 2026, Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings: Full Squads
Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma, Trent Boult, Suryakumar Yadav, Quinton de Kock (WK), Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Corbin Bosch, Hardik Pandya (C), Jasprit Bumrah, Ryan Rickelton (WK), Will Jacks, Mayank Rawat, Mayank Markande, Sherfane Rutherford, Raghu Sharma, Atharva Ankolekar, Tilak Varma, Ashwani Kumar, Raj Bawa, Danish Malewar, Robin Minz (WK), Allah Ghazanfar, Naman Dhir, Mohammed Salahuddin Izhar.
Punjab Kings: Marcus Stoinis, Yuzvendra Chahal, Shashank Singh, Praveen Dubey, Lockie Ferguson, Shreyas Iyer, Ben Dwarshuis, Vishnu Vinod (WK), Xavier Bartlett, Yash Thakur, Azmatullah Omarzai, Vyshak Vijay Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Marco Jansen, Nehal Wadhera, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Harpreet Brar, Priyansh Arya, Suryansh Shedge, Cooper Conolly, Mitchell Owen, Pyla Avinash, Harnoor Singh, Musheer Khan, Vishal Nishad.
(With ANI Inputs)
