The Mumbai Indians are five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions. But their recent record in the Indian Premier League suggests those days are long gone. Having last won the IPL trophy in 2020, the Blue and Gold have struggled in the last five editions, securing just one Playoff berth. The management switched captaincy from Rohit Sharma to Hardik Pandya, but to no avail. This year, MI finally ended their opening-match curse, but after slumping to two wins from eight matches, the road ahead looks gloomy and unpromising.
Murali Kartik (left) and Virender Sehwag (AFP Images)
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What’s gone wrong? How has a franchise fallen so flat? Virender Sehwag and Murali Kartik got down to discussing the nuances of last night’s game, where MI failed to defend 243 against the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium. Moreover, the decision to bring Shardul Thakur in as an Impact Player but not give him overs baffles more than anything else, a topic that made things a tad weird between the two former India teammates.
“Even I didn’t understand,” said Kartik on Cricbuzz about Shardul getting ignored. “Maybe they brought him in as an option, but perhaps they forgot about it or something else. I actually did not understand. Search me. I have the same expression as you.”
Kartik and Sehwag carry on
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“Even I didn’t understand,” said Kartik on Cricbuzz about Shardul getting ignored. “Maybe they brought him in as an option, but perhaps they forgot about it or something else. I actually did not understand. Search me. I have the same expression as you.”
Kartik and Sehwag carry on
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However, before Kartik could complete, Sehwag, in his natural manner, threw a playful jibe at Kartik, asking the host if he could pass the can of Red Bull to him so that he could spray it on Kartik’s face. This left Kartik visibly awkward, who then questioned Sehwag. “Why don’t you tell me?” As Sehwag explained that Shardul should have been made to bowl since he is a wicket-taking bowler, Kartik reminded him that the question was ‘why’. That’s when even Sehwag did not have an answer. “The answer to that question is with Hardik Pandya.”
Both quickly moved on, though. The discussion then drifted towards the Mumbai Indians’ performance as a whole, which Sehwag was highly critical of, and right after, Kartik presented another point of view on Shardul. “Shardul played one match and has gone wicketless in only one match, against DC. He picked up three against the KKR and another against the Punjab Kings. So he’s picked at least one wicket every match. He was expensive, but then don’t pick him if that’s what you worry about. That could have been the only reason why he wasn’t allowed to bowl.”
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MI face an uphill climb from here. Placed second from bottom, they are in a do-or-die situation, with every defeat potentially spelling the end of the road.
Aditya Bhattacharya is the Sports Editor at Hindustan Times Digital, with close to 15 years of experience in sports journalism. Over the course of his career, he has worked with leading media organisations including Cricbuzz, The Times of India, Network18 and Zee. Primarily a cricket writer, Aditya has covered several marquee events, including the 2016 ICC World T20, the 2019 ICC World Cup in England and the 2023 World Cup in India. His reporting portfolio also includes international cricket across England, South Africa and New Zealand, along with forays into tennis, including coverage of the Australian Open. He has interviewed several prominent athletes across sports. Aditya began his career with a brief stint at CricketNext before getting his first major break at Cricbuzz, where he was part of the Times Network’s startup venture GoCricket, which later merged with Cricbuzz. After nearly 18 months there, he moved to The Times of India, covering his first World Cup assignment and reporting first-hand on landmark moments such as Virat Kohli’s iconic innings against Australia in Mohali. During his three-year tenure, he played a key role in both reporting and desk operations and was recognised as TOI Employee of the Quarter in 2016. He later joined Zee, where he covered the 2019 World Cup across five venues in England—an assignment he considers a career highlight.
At Hindustan Times, Aditya’s leadership came to the fore as he was promoted to lead the sports team within 18 months. Under his stewardship, the section has delivered extensive coverage of global sporting events, including the IPL, Olympics, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. In 2024, he was named HT DigiStar of the Year. Aditya continues to adapt to the evolving digital publishing landscape, with a sharp focus on search and audience engagement. Outside work, he occasionally plays the guitar and remains an avid gamer.
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Home/Cricket/‘I’ll spray Red Bull on your face’: Virender Sehwag, Murali Kartik’s discussion turns awkward
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