Five seasons now without meeting hopes. Once dominant under Rohit Sharma, Mumbai Indians claimed five titles across ten years. Tough fights lately, yet falling short despite playoff runs twice since 2020. Victory has stayed just out of reach.
Right now, the team focuses on each match without getting caught up in what others think. With their big game against Delhi Capitals coming soon in IPL 2026, head coach Mahela Jayawardene said results aren’t his main worry. Instead, sticking to routines matters more than chasing outcomes. While some clubs keep talking about glory, a few have never lifted the trophy. This squad moves forward calmly, playing just one game at a time. Confidence grows quietly when trust stays stronger than noise
“10 teams make it even harder competition. But I think in the last 5 years, we were in the playoffs 2 or 3 times, if I am not mistaken. So that means we had our opportunities in just that last bit. In a competition like this, you have to take one game at a time and go through the process. As a team, we know that we have done well consistently over a period of time,” Jayawardene said in the pre-match press conference.
Staying with what works feels right. Good cricket? That keeps us moving forward. Success came from sticking to one path. Why switch now? The way ahead stays clear when we repeat what already brings results. Still, if we push just as hard each time out, carry that same drive everywhere we go – on the grass, in the hallways – the team grows. The record follows when effort stays steady. No need to hammer home how many winters passed without a title. Other clubs know droughts too. We walk past those thoughts like yesterday’s news. Still, out of pure respect, we figured leaning on our own method made sense. Focusing inward showed us the way forward,” he said.
Mumbai off to a winning start
After a long wait of fourteen years Mumbai opened their IPL season with a win over Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets. Smashing boundaries early on Rohit powered through the innings with 78 off just 38 deliveries. At the other end Rickelton stayed calm building his score steadily until he reached 81. Wickets tumbled thanks to Shardul Thakur whose sharp bowling earned him three scalps and the match honor