MI Hardik Pandya shields bowlers as Mumbai's struggles continue

Five-times ‌champions Mumbai are enduring a wretched season and are ninth in the 10-team standings with just two wins from eight matches. Their much-vaunted bowling unit, spearheaded by India paceman Jasprit ‌Bumrah, has struggled mightily with conditions in the IPL heavily favouring batsmen.

Mumbai Indians' bowlers are under scrutiny after ​failing to defend their highest first-innings ​total in the Indian Premier ‌League on ​Wednesday but captain Hardik Pandya refused to single them out for blame and said the whole team were accountable. Five-times ‌champions Mumbai are enduring a wretched season and are ninth in the 10-team standings with just two wins from eight matches.

Their much-vaunted bowling unit, spearheaded by India paceman Jasprit ‌Bumrah, has struggled mightily with conditions in the IPL heavily favouring batsmen. Mumbai posted ‌243-5 against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday, only for the visitors to chase it down comfortably in a six-wicket win with eight balls to spare.

Bumrah, widely regarded as the world's premier ⁠fast ​bowler, went wicketless once ⁠again while conceding 54 runs in four overs. He remains stuck on two wickets in eight matches. Speaking ⁠at the post-match presentation, Pandya said there was lots of blame to go around for ​the defeat.

"I won't put my bowlers under the bus. I think as an ⁠overall unit, we have not been able to do what exactly Mumbai Indians stands for," he said. Mumbai, ⁠who ​have used 22 players this season, more than any other side, just needed a slice of luck to turn things around, Pandya added.

"It's been that kind of ⁠season. When you get a couple of chances, you grab them, that's when luck ⁠and momentum changes," he ⁠said. "If you don't, it kind of hurts you, but it's still fine, all the boys tried really well."

Mumbai next face Chennai ‌Super Kings ‌on Saturday.