Lack of execution big factor in loss, says MI coach Jayawardene after his side slumped to defeat against Punjab Kings.
Head coach Mahela Jayawardene pointed to the “blunders” on the field and lack of “execution” with the ball as the primary reasons for Mumbai Indians’ (MI) exit from what had been a “good campaign” in IPL 2025.
“It was a good campaign for us, the way we started and how we regrouped as a team and played some really, really good cricket,” Jayawardene said in the press conference after the game. “We had our opportunities getting to the playoffs, and we had a really good game first half and even today, I thought we played some good cricket except for Kings playing better cricket than us. Especially with the bat, they were solid, especially chasing 200. It’s not that easy, they executed that pretty well.
“We made a few blunders obviously with those two catches but I think that’s how the game goes, we had those luck going our way in the previous games. It was a good game of cricket and we came short, I think that’s as simple as that.”
MI scored a respectable 203 for 6 after being asked to bat first, but it was unable to stop PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer’s undefeated 87 from leading a brilliant chase. According to Jayawardene, MI’s bowling strategy was to rely on yorkers and slow down the ball, which they had done well all season long. However, in crucial moments, their execution fell short.
“In phases, they batted well,” Jayawardene said. “We also came back and took the wickets and were in it, which is that middle phase, [but] we just couldn’t control that after the tenth over. Those four-five overs, we just couldn’t keep the pressure going, and that’s where especially Nehal and Shreyas, their partnership probably took the game away from us.
“We also took some pace off, but like I said earlier, our execution wasn’t up to the mark, we have to take that [blame]. Even we bowled pretty good yorkers throughout the campaign and we just couldn’t get those yorkers going as well [today].
“So it’s just execution and that can happen and they put us under pressure as well, so when they hit those vital blows in that middle phase, especially those sixes, that’s something that we need to stop in this kind of situation, but we just couldn’t do that.”