NEW DELHI: If we talk about the best turnaround by a team in the history of IPL, it has to be Royal Challengers Bengaluru who staged a historic comeback in the IPL 2024 season. With 1-7 in the first eight matches, RCB won six consecutive games and entered the playoffs in style.Mumbai Indians find themselves in a similar situation in IPL 2026. They are pacing in ninth place with just two wins in eight matches, with four points and a net catch of -0.784.
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“We didn’t play good cricket” – Mahela Jayawardene after MI’s biggest IPL loss vs CSKCan they turn the tide?Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin sounded dejected with the way the five-time champions have performed this season and said he had no hope of the Hardik Pandya-led team turning things around.“I’m a bit shocked. The way Mumbai Indians played in this IPL. I don’t know how it happened. My mind can’t process how it’s even possible. We can find a reason for it. I feel sorry for them. It was my favorite game before this tournament. I felt this was the game. Mumbai Indians will come back here. But SRH didn’t give us a chance on their YouTube channel,” Ashwin said.Asked if Mumbai Indians can win six of their remaining matches or if it’s all over for them, Ashwin said: “I have no hope. I’ll tell you why I have no hope in Mumbai. Because look at their trend. They gave 220 against KKR. But no other team in this tournament gave 220 for Mumbai. And KKR didn’t give any other first team such a big score. 230-240. If they give 220, it was 208 but it was no more than a par score.“Their batting line-up is struggling. Their bowling attack is struggling. So where is the answer going to come from? And when they’re away from home, they won’t find the answers yet. So I don’t know,” Ashwin said.Mumbai Indians have had a mixed and largely disappointing campaign in IPL 2026.They got off to a positive start, beating Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets, but consistency has eluded them since then. Losses against Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru exposed both batting and bowling concerns.The struggles continued with defeats to Punjab Kings and a crushing 103-run loss to Chennai Super Kings, which highlighted their inability to compete at key moments.Their only other bright spot was a dominant 99 run win over Gujarat Titans which shows the potential in the team.However, another setback followed as Sunrisers Hyderabad chased down a massive target and handed MI a six-wicket defeat.With just two wins in eight matches, Mumbai Indians face an uphill task.
