Mumbai Indians‘ captain Hardik Pandya shared his thoughts after their match against the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL 2025, where they unfortunately lost by 12 runs. Hardik explained that the choice to retire Tilak Varma was pretty straightforward under the circumstances. Varma was struggling to time the ball correctly, and he only scored 25 runs off 23 balls. With the team needing 24 runs from the final seven balls of the innings, they decided it was best for him to step back.
This match was notable for Tilak, as he joined an exclusive group of players in IPL history, being only the fourth to retire out. Throughout the game, you could see Hardik and other coaches strategizing about how to best manage their innings. During the tense final overs, he noticed that Suryakumar Yadav looked a bit upset about the decision to retire Varma, which just reflects how intense and personal these matches can get.
After the game, Hardik admitted that it’s tough to lose and took full responsibility for the team’s performance, especially pointing out that the bowlers gave away a few extra runs early on. He mentioned how he took five wickets during the innings but felt like they didn’t capitalize enough when batting. It’s disappointing when you lose, he said. He went on to discuss how he believes they lost because they allowed the opposition to score more than they should have.
Hardik reflected on the team’s dynamics, emphasizing that wins and losses are part of the game, and it’s essential to stay united, stating, We win as a team and we lose as a team. No one should be singled out. I take complete ownership.” This speaks volumes about his leadership style.
He mentioned that all they need to do is play better cricket moving forward. Hardik likes to keep things simple; by making smarter decisions, being calculated in their bowling tactics, and taking some calculated risks when it comes to batting, he feels that the team can get back on track. With the long tournament ahead, he remains positive, suggesting that a couple of wins could really help them find their groove again. It’s about sticking together and learning from each match, no matter the outcome.
