Former India player Aakash Chopra has noted that the Mumbai Indians (MI) are heading into their IPL 2026 clash against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) after an extremely ordinary performance in their previous game. He pointed out that Tilak Varma was virtually competing with Ruturaj Gaikwad by playing an extremely slow knock.
MI will host RR in the penultimate league game of IPL 2026 in Mumbai on Sunday, May 24. While the hosts have been knocked out of the playoff race, the visitors will secure a spot in the Eliminator if they win Sunday’s game.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ the former India batter highlighted that MI have been found wanting in IPL 2026, with the likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak, and Hardik Pandya failing to live up to their names.
“Mumbai were extremely ordinary in the last match. They had lost four wickets in the first six overs, and the fifth was also about to fall the way Hardik Pandya played his first ball. So you start asking questions that you need to play with a little more responsibility, because the names are huge, but the deeds have been so small,” Chopra said.
“Suryakumar Yadav’s entire tournament has been cold. If Rohit Sharma doesn’t score runs, this team is seen struggling in batting. Tilak Varma has had three good knocks, but there hasn’t been much good around that. He was giving competition to Ruturaj in the last match, the way he batted. Hardik Pandya hasn’t really stood the test of time with bat and ball,” he added.
Tilak Varma scored 20 runs off 32 balls in the Mumbai Indians’ four-wicket loss in their IPL 2026 clash against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Kolkata four days ago. While Suryakumar Yadav has aggregated 210 runs at an average of 17.50 in 12 innings this season, Hardik Pandya has managed 172 runs at an average of 21.50 in nine innings.
“Please play Ravindra Jadeja” – Aakash Chopra to RR ahead of IPL 2026 clash vs MI
In the same video, Aakash Chopra urged the Rajasthan Royals to include Ravindra Jadeja in their playing combination for their IPL 2026 clash against the Mumbai Indians.
“Riyan Parag wasn’t there in the previous match. Don’t know whether he is available for this match or not. Since it’s an afternoon game, please play Ravindra Jadeja. I don’t know how big his injury is, and I don’t know whether there is an injury or not,” he said.
The cricketer-turned-commentator also opined that RR should play Ravi Bishnoi ahead of Yash Raj Punja due to the former’s greater experience.
“You will need a bit more spin in an afternoon game. So either Yash Raj Punja or Ravi Bishnoi. Ravi Bishnoi was very good. Not that Yash Raj Punja is doing badly, Bishnoi has experience. So I am thinking about him from that perspective. The bowling has to step up a little,” Chopra observed.
Aakash Chopra noted that the Rajasthan Royals have seemingly forgotten Nandre Burger or have not conveyed that the left-arm seamer is injured. He added that the Jaipur-based franchise has been known for overcomplicating things a little.
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Edited by Kartik Iyer