IPL 2026: 'Very, very average' - R Ashwin on Hardik Pandya’s Decision in MI vs RCB Clash

The IPL 2026 encounter between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Wankhede Stadium sparked a massive tactical debate following a controversial captaincy call by Hardik Pandya.

Veteran Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has come out with a stinging critique of Pandya's decision to introduce leg-spinner Mayank Markande against Rajat Patidar, a player renowned for his dominance against spin.

During the 11th over of the RCB innings, Pandya handed the ball to Markande just as Patidar had arrived at the crease. The move backfired spectacularly as Patidar dispatched the leg-spinner for three consecutive sixes, shifting the momentum firmly in RCB's favour.

He highlighted Patidar's historical success against Markande, referencing a 2024 clash where the batter had similar success against the bowler.

"Rajat Patidar is a monster hitter against spinners. When he came to bat, you gave the ball to Markande straight away? Not the smartest of moves. Very, very average. It is very important to understand what Markande thinks. Patidar hit him and washed him in Hyderabad, and here, he hit him from the very first ball again." Ashwin remarked in a video that has since gone viral.

He further stressed on the importance of psychological matchups, stating, "It is very important to understand what Markande thinks. Patidar hit him and washed him in Hyderabad, and here, he hit him from the very first ball again".
Ashwin pointed to a match way back from 2024, where Markande, at that time playing for SRH in a clash against RCB.

"This SRH vs RCB 2024 game was where Rajat Patidar announced that he is a spin hitter. He was hitting Markande into every corner. There are some common things between these two big overs. The first ball was taken by Virat Kohli, he took a single, and everything else was the same. There he hit four sixes, here he hit three," Ashwin highlighted.

Aswhin said that Mumbai's spinners were taken for 83 runs in the six overs that they bowled. Markande gave 40 runs in two overs, while New Zealand's Mitchell Santner went for 43 runs from his four.

"Here, the difference is between 210 and 240. Mayank Markande: two overs, 40 runs. Today, the spinners went for 83 runs total. I think Santner went for 43 as well," Ashwin concluded.

With Mumbai Indians losing 3 matches on the trot, it will be interesting to watch how they bounce back in the upcoming matches.