Dejected Hardik Pandya vows to keep fighting challenges as MI grapple with early IPL exit

A dejected Hardik Pandya did not have much to say after the loss Mumbai Indians endured at home at the hands of Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday. 

Mumbai are all but eliminated from IPL 2024 at this juncture as a play-off berth appears bleak with 8 losses from 11 games. 

Speaking at the presentation, the Mumbai skipper commented on Mumbai's performance against Kolkata, 'Obviously we couldn't form partnerships and kept losing wickets. There are a lot of questions that will take time to answer. But for now, not much to say. Bowlers did a fantastic job on this track.' 

Pandya, who had elected to chase, stated that the wicket did get better as dew set in, in the second innings but his batters failed to capitalise. 

Putting up a brave front, the 30-year-old spoke about fighting till the end, 'Will go through the game and see what we can do better. You keep fighting, that's what I keep telling myself. It's challenging, but you take the challenges.'

Mumbai were defeated by Kolkata for the first time in 12 years at the Wankhede Stadium. The visitors bowled them out in the 19th over itself, winning by 24 runs. 

The ongoing IPL season has been a dismal, hot-and-cold one for Hardik & Co. 

Pandya was handed over the captaincy after the franchise removed national captain Rohit Sharma, something that the fans didn't really embrace with the colourful Baroda all-rounder being booed nearly every time he entered the pitch for most of MI's 11 games.