With four defeats on the bounce, the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 has been highly challenging for five-time champions Mumbai Indians. Having played five matches so far in the tournament, MI have struggled to get any real momentum after opening their campaign with a promising win. Their latest defeat was against Punjab Kings on Thursday, where they failed to defend 195, handing Punjab a seven-wicket win. Speaking on MI's struggles, head coach Mahela Jayawardene admitted that the team is still searching for the right balance and intensity. Further, Mahela asserted that it's not about Hardik; the entire unit is not clicking.

"I don't think it's just on Hardik, I think it's on every one of us when we are not doing well. It's not an individual. It's pretty much on me, everyone who is involved in the management and all that to see how can we be better. Now, away matches become even more important for us. So, (we'll) see how we can control that," Jayawardene said following MI's crushing defeat against PBKS. 

"I know we are playing good cricket. We are not taken out completely, but at the same time the other teams are much better, clinical; obviously the confidence is high as well when they have that kind of start so we just need to control phases that we can control. So I think it's not just on one individual. As a franchise, as a team management, we need to do things better to get into some rhythm and then get a few wins under our belt that will give us that confidence," he said.

In five matches, MI have suffered two away losses and two at home. Mahela felt that their combinations had been disrupted by injuries and players not being available. 

"I think the four games that we lost - two away and two at home - were different kind of games and we did try some combinations and some of those combinations were forced on us because of injuries and players not available. So (we are) trying to create something of what is available. But we are finding some spark in certain areas but the other side is finding that especially with the ball; we haven't been able to penetrate oppositions so that's something that we really have to work harder and see how we can improve on that," he said.

Mahela Jayawardene also provided an update on Rohit Sharma, who missed MI's match against Punjab due to injury concerns.

"On Ro, he started running yesterday, (we'll take) day to day to see how he feels. He knows his body better than anybody else so it's nothing serious but at the same time we don't want to push and it's early season still. So, the medical staff will take that call on him," Jayawardene said.