Ashwin Criticises Hardik Pandya’s Spin Move Against Patidar in MI’s Loss to RCB

Ravichandran Ashwin has taken issue with a tactical decision by Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya, describing the choice of bowler against Rajat Patidar as a very average one during MI’s defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

The match

RCB beat Mumbai by 18 runs at the Wankhede Stadium on April 12 in Match 22 of IPL 2026. They had piled up 240/4, with Phil Salt striking 78 off 36 balls and captain Patidar adding 53 from just 20 deliveries.

The turning point

In the 11th over Pandya gave the ball to leg-spinner Mayank Markande just as Patidar walked in. Patidar, a strong player of spin, responded by hitting three sixes in a row, and the momentum moved decisively towards Bengaluru.

Ashwin pointed out that Patidar’s strike rate against spin this season is above 200 and said that bringing on a spinner at that stage made little sense given what the batter does best.

He also recalled IPL 2024, when Patidar hit Markande, then with Sunrisers Hyderabad, for four sixes in an over against RCB. In Ashwin’s view the same thing happened again, with Patidar attacking the leg-spinner from the first ball.

Spinners under pressure

Mumbai’s spin options had a tough night, conceding 83 runs in six overs between them. Markande went for 40 in two overs, while Mitchell Santner gave away 43 in his four, though he did take Patidar’s wicket.

The result was Mumbai’s third defeat in a row, and it left them eighth in the table.