Watch: Jacob Duffy removes Hardik Pandya for 40 during MI vs RCB clash in IPL 2026

Both Mumbai Indians (MI) and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) needed some special performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 on the back of their respective defeats during their meeting at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. The home side, with another defeat, was in need to walk up and smell the coffee. 

Hardik Pandya, the captain of the side, needed to put on a show during their 241-run chase when they were struggling and kept losing regular wickets in the second innings. The issue for him towards the death overs was that the required run rate went over 17.

Hardik Pandya dismissed for 40 during MI vs RCB clash in IPL 2026

The Mumbai Indians’ captain walked into the middle during the eighth over of the innings when the hosts lost both Tilak Varma and Ryan Rickelton in a span of just four balls in the same over. Hardik, with his aura, drilled the very first ball of the over in the long-off region for a massive six.

The right-handed batter drilled the fifth ball of Suyash’s next over into the wide space of the backward point region for another boundary before getting a thick outside edge as the ball flew fine into the wide of the short third man for another four.

Watch the video here: 

Hardik welcomed Jacob Duffy for the 15th over of the innings with a boundary. The right-handed batter went on the back foot and adjusted to tap the ball on its head to beat the diving backward point region. But two balls later, the New Zealand-born had a smile on his face as he sent back Pandya for 40.

It was full but well outside the off stump of the Baroda-born, who slogged it as the thick outside edge flew to Romario Shepherd, who grabbed the catch safely to put the final nail in the coffin.

MI struggle with regular wickets in 241-run chase

All three of the top three batters of Bengaluru celebrated their respective half-centuries. Phil Salt smashed 78 runs in just 36 balls with the help of six boundaries and as many sixes, while Virat Kohli clubbed 50 runs in 38 balls. Their captain, Rajat Patidar, nailed 53 runs in 20 balls, thanks to four boundaries and five sixes.

See Also: Watch: Rohit Sharma smashes Jacob Duffy for massive six during MI vs RCB clash in IPL 2026

Mumbai, meanwhile, wasn’t switched on at the start of their bowling and also kept losing wickets in the middle overs, which put the brakes on their chase as they fell short of the task by a massive margin.

Brief Scores (at the time of writing): RCB 240/4 (Phil Salt 78, Rajat Patidar 53, Shardul Thakur 1/32) beat MI 222/5 (S Rutherford 71*, Suyash Sharma 2/47) by 18 runs. 

Fans react to Hardik’s dismissal for 40 in IPL 2026 

Here is how the fans have reacted to Hardik being dismissed on 40 against RCB in IPL 2026-