Mumbai Indians (MI) are off to a horrid start to their IPL 2026 campaign. The five-time champions are tottering at the eighth position on the points table. They merely have four points with two wins and five defeats after seven games.
Mumbai perhaps suffered their most chastening defeat of the IPL 2026 season on April 23. They lost the El Clásico of the cash-rich league as they were taken down at home by Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
CSK handed Mumbai their biggest loss (in terms of runs) in T20 history as they got mauled by 103 runs at Wankhede. It was a battle of two teams with similar trajectories this season. However, CSK’s margin of victory suggests that it was a battle of unequal forces.
Mumbai captain Hardik Pandya decided to bowl first, as he wanted to chase under lights and use dew to their advantage. While Mumbai were largely disciplined in terms of their bowling, they didn’t have an answer to Sanju Samson.
Samson, 31, scored an unbeaten 101* off 54 balls, laced with 10 fours and six sixes at a strike rate of 187.03. He held the fort for CSK and batted right through to ensure they posted over 200.
Biggest losses suffered by Mumbai Indians in T20 History
| Date | Opponent | Margin | Venue |
| 23 Apr 2026 | CSK | 103 runs | Wankhede |
| 17 Apr 2013 | RR | 87 runs | Jaipur |
| 8 May 2016 | SRH | 85 runs | Visakhapatnam |
| 10 May 2011 | Kings XI | 76 runs | Mohali |
| 25 Apr 2008 | Kings XI | 66 runs | Mohali |
| 26 May 2023 | GT | 62 runs | Ahmedabad |
| 25 Apr 2023 | GT | 55 runs | Ahmedabad |
| 26 Sep 2021 | RCB | 54 runs | Dubai (DICS) |
| 9 May 2022 | KKR | 52 runs | DY Patil |
| 18 May 2013 | Kings XI | 50 runs | Dharamsala |
Mumbai’s batting order collapses in pursuit of 208
In reply, Mumbai’s batting order collapsed like a house of cards. Barring Suryakumar Yadav (35) and Tilak Varma (37), none of their batters even reached the double-digit mark.
Three of Mumbai batters (Danish Malewar, Naman Dhir and Sherfane Rutherford) bagged ducks. They didn’t have any answers to CSK’s spin duo of Akeal Hosein (4/17) and Noor Ahmad (2/23) as they ran riot. The 103-run loss has dented Mumbai’s morale and their net run rate (NRR), which stands at -0.736. They are only above Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on the points table.
