Mumbai Indians have had a very awful start to the next season of the Indian Premier League, which former South African captain Faf du Plessis believes could be the result of India’s recent T20 World Cup triumph. While sharing his views on why MI are struggling in the ongoing IPL season despite having star names in their ranks, he hinted indirectly that it is difficult to maintain their form after winning the World Cup.
MI are currently at the bottom of the table lone win from five games. Their current side features four players – Hardik Pandya (captain), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma and Jasprit Bumrah – from the Indian side that defended its T20 World Cup title on March 8 in Ahmedabad.
“You look right across the IPL and there are quite a few Indian players from the World T20 who are not having amazing campaigns,” du Plessis told ESPNcricinfo when talking about Mumbai Indians’ performances this season.
Captain Pandya who is the franchise’s key finisherhe managed just 81 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 158.82. Middle order batsmen Suryakumar and Tilak managed only 106 runs and 43 runs respectively. Meanwhile, one of the top bowlers in the country, Bumrah, is yet to take a wicket in the five innings he has played.
“So it shows you that there’s a certain level. When a team has done such great things and had such success, how do you make sure that your desire and your hunger stay as strong? Because we’re not machines, right? We’re human beings. So how do you maximize your intensity, your hunger to do well every game?” he added.
Du Plessis believes MI are not the only side facing such problems; The players who won the title during the tournament and who play for different franchises also tried to get going.
“And not that it’s a reason, but it’s interesting that a lot of India’s international players haven’t been fired up this IPL. It’s the guys below them who are the talk of the town.”
Mumbai Indians travel to the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad tonight to face the resurgent Gujarat Titans led by skipper Shubman Gill who has been in sensational form and is chasing the Orange Cap. The opening match was dropped at the last minute by India’s title winners.
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Published on:
20 Apr 2026 17:36 IST
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