Mumbai hope to do a Houdini act…again

Hardik Pandya had that look on his face, the one he had when Avesh Khan bowled him with a near-perfect full-toss. A mix of surprise and shock, yet that of appreciation. The only difference being that he was fielding this time.

It was the 16th over of Rajasthan Royals' innings. Gerard Coetzee bowled it short and wide, on a good length and just outside off stump. Yashasvi Jaiswal moved towards the leg side, gave himself enough room, pulled it over deep square for a maximum and walked up to skipper Sanju Samson for a fist bump. The sheer force behind the stroke propelled it past Pandya's grasp, hurtling out of the field with such velocity that it left him stunned and powerless. Jaiswal blazed through a dazzling century off just 59 balls to get back among runs in the ongoing season.

It took him only seven balls to realise that this was going to be his day. The exit door for Pandya and Co. had been well and truly unlatched. This was destined to end in calamity.

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Mumbai are back on familiar turf.

Monday's embarrassing defeat to Royals after a bowling slump was their fifth in eight matches, leaving Pandya's men gasping for revival.

They need not look elsewhere for inspiration for they know the way out. Be it their poor start in the inaugural 2008 IPL, or in 2015 when they won for the second time despite losing five out of the first six games, they have repeatedly defied the odds. The IPL editions of 2013, 2014, and even 2015, showed how Mumbai has a bizarre knack for bringing out its best in adverse situations.

But is it too late this year? No, it is never too late to start over, they say.

Pandya, amid the relentless boos and jeers, knows his team only has to do what it has done over the years to bounce back, and he is hopeful. "I don't think it was our best day in the field as well. Overall, we did not put the right foot in the park and eventually, they outplayed us. After the game, it's not the right time to go to the players, everyone is professional, they know their roles," he said.

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In 2008, Mumbai began with four defeats but won the next six games. However, failure to reach the semifinal in the first two seasons saw them turn into a determined unit, and that was in full display two seasons later. Having been off to their best possible start, winning seven of the first ten matches, they reached the final but surrendered to Chennai Super Kings in the final.

Over the next two editions, they rubbed shoulders with the tournament's best teams Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and CSK and advanced to the playoffs. But losses left them yearning to lay their hands on the trophy.

Though they won six of the first ten matches in 2013, tougher challenges awaited them. Having mauled Rajasthan by four wickets with a ball to spare in the second qualifier, Mumbai pipped CSK by 23 runs in the final. It was a bittersweet moment in every sense following Sachin Tendulkar's announcement that it marked his final IPL appearance.

It was in 2014 when Mumbai truly set their mark as a side that could stage remarkable comebacks. Among their five title wins, 2015 had looked the most improbable as they began with five defeats in six games. Again, the side went on to win nine of their next ten games before lifting the trophy a second time.

An inconsistent run in 2016 rendered Mumbai unable to reach the playoffs, but they made amends the following year. In 2018, they were prevented from reaching the playoffs after a crisp 11-run defeat from Delhi Daredevils in the 55th game of the 56-game league stage. Yet again, they rectified their mistakes the subsequent year. In the 2020 edition, Mumbai found the sweet spot that all planners and great players seek.

Three years have passed since, naturally, the title drought stings, considering the team value and experience and money invested into acquiring some new faces at February's player auction.