MI officially out after RCB's last-ball thriller; Jayawardene admits 'we were not good enough'
Synopsis
Mumbai Indians' playoff hopes ended in heartbreak as RCB stole a last-ball victory in Raipur. With eight losses in 11 games, MI fell short of consistency — a theme Jayawardene repeatedly emphasized. The loss leaves RCB atop the table with seven wins, while MI must regroup with three matches left.
Key Takeaways
Mumbai Indians officially eliminated from playoffs after RCB's last-ball victory in Raipur on 11 May .
MI scored 166/7 ; Bhuvneshwar Kumar took 4 wickets .
Krunal Pandya's unbeaten 73 off 46 balls guided RCB to victory.
MI have now lost 8 of 11 games; RCB moved to top spot with 7 wins .
Jayawardene admitted the team lacked consistency with bat and ball, citing injuries and forced changes.
Mumbai Indians have been officially eliminated from the playoff race after Royal Challengers Bengaluru snatched a dramatic last-ball victory in Raipur on 11 May. Head coach Mahela Jayawardene acknowledged the loss, conceding that the team lacked consistency across batting and bowling despite having opportunities to stay in contention.
How the match unfolded
Bhuvneshwar Kumar's four-wicket haul restricted MI to 166/7. In reply, Krunal Pandya's unbeaten 73 off 46 balls on a challenging surface kept RCB in the hunt. The final over, bowled by young Raj Angad Bawa, proved decisive. With RCB needing 15 runs, Bhuvneshwar struck a crucial six. Rasikh Salam then hit the next delivery firmly down the pitch, where it deflected off Bawa towards long-on, allowing the batters to scramble back for a match-winning double.
Jayawardene on the final-over gamble
Defending the decision to bowl Raj Angad Bawa in the final over, Jayawardene said:
Point of View
But it also masks a deeper structural problem. MI have cycled through injury excuses (Bumrah, Hardik, Ishan) while building a squad that lacks a reliable middle-order backbone. Eight losses in 11 games is not bad luck; it is a failure of squad balance and decision-making. The gap between MI's legacy and this season's reality is now undeniable.
NationPress
11 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Mumbai Indians been eliminated from the playoffs?
Mumbai Indians have been officially eliminated after their eighth loss in 11 games, with RCB's last-ball victory in Raipur sealing their fate. The team fell short of the wins required to stay in playoff contention.
What did Mahela Jayawardene say about the loss?
Jayawardene acknowledged that MI had opportunities but lacked consistency with both bat and ball. He said: 'We were not good enough. We were not consistent enough with the ball, with the bat, and that showed the margins.' He admitted the team was two to three wins short of the playoff group.
How did RCB win the match?
RCB chased down MI's 166/7 in a thrilling final over. Krunal Pandya's unbeaten 73 off 46 balls kept RCB in the hunt, and in the final over bowled by Raj Angad Bawa, Bhuvneshwar Kumar hit a six before Rasikh Salam's deflected hit resulted in a match-winning double.
What is MI's record now and what happens next?
MI have lost 8 of their 11 games and are officially out of playoff contention. They have three matches remaining in the season to play out. RCB, meanwhile, moved to the top of the table with seven wins in 11 games.
