Mumbai. April 27 (NationPress) After a remarkable comeback into the playoffs with five consecutive victories following a sluggish start, Mumbai Indians' captain Hardik Pandya expressed that his team understands precisely when to seize control of the match and demonstrated exceptional performance against Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday.

The Mumbai Indians capitalized on outstanding bowling from Jasprit Bumrah (4-22) and Trent Boult (3-20), who collectively claimed seven wickets, while Ryan Rickelton and Suryakumar Yadav contributed with aggressive half-centuries to secure a 54-run victory over Lucknow Super Giants in Match 45 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the Wankhede Stadium.

The five-time champions surged ahead, but midway through the innings, they appeared to falter, reaching 180/6 in the 18th over when a total of 210-220 seemed achievable. However, Naman Dhir (25 not out off 11) and Corbin Bosch (20 off 10) delivered powerful strikes as the Mumbai Indians concluded their innings at 215/7.

The last instance of the Mumbai Indians winning five consecutive matches was in 2020 when they clinched the title, but Pandya emphasized that they are not dwelling on the past.

He expressed satisfaction with each player's contribution to maintaining their momentum and commended Naman Dhir and Corbin Bosch for their finishing efforts.

"The momentum we've built is crucial, and everyone has been making contributions. Even after losing a few wickets, Bosch and Naman stepped up. We recognized the moment to take control of the game, and our performance was fantastic. Great teams are built on such contributions from all players," said Pandya post-match.

The Mumbai Indians captain, who faced criticism at the same Wankhede Stadium last year after unexpectedly taking over from long-time skipper Rohit Sharma, effectively led his team by utilizing various bowling options and making timely changes.

Pandya employed seven bowlers, including himself, rotating them in brief spells to disrupt the batters' rhythm. Despite bowling just one over himself, he defended this decision, stating he wanted to give debutant all-rounder Bosch an opportunity.

"I bowl whenever it's necessary. Today was a great chance for Bosch to showcase his skills," Pandya remarked.

While the Mumbai Indians captain celebrated the team's five-match winning streak, he cautioned against becoming complacent.

"This competition is challenging, and we must remain grounded. Our focus will always be on playing quality cricket and looking ahead to the next match," Pandya stated.

The Mumbai Indians will head to Jaipur for a match against Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on May 1.

After their five-match winning streak, MI and Pandya have already shifted their attention to this upcoming clash, celebrating their performance with a victory lap at Wankhede, acknowledging the enthusiastic support from over 19,000 children from various NGOs who attended the match as part of the Education and Sport for All (ESA) Day.