Mumbai Indians bowl coach Paras Mhambrey has come to the defence of pacer Deepak Chahar despite his expensive fielding blunder in an IPL 2026 match for MI against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens. The incident occurred in a key moment of the match when Chahar and Robin Minz bungled a catch that allowed KKR batter Rovman Powell to gain an extra chance. KKR gained confidence after the missed chance and consolidated their footing in the game, which ultimately cost Mumbai Indians.
Mhambrey is clear, however, that the team management would not blame Chahar in isolation for what was ultimately a team defeat. Mistakes can happen on the field, he said, adding that there are tough phases in a long tournament like IPL which every player goes through. “We should not look at the blame on one individual and move forward as a team,” said the former India bowling coach.
That dropped catch was among the major talking points of the game, with fans taking to social media with their views. Mumbai Indians have been a team lacking in consistency this season, with fielding lapses and missed opportunities causing them to lose multiple close games. The error against KKR only increased the pressure on a struggling five-time champion who is needing to work very hard just to stay in contention for the playoffs.
Even with the backlash, there seems to be a firm resolve in Chahar’s camp as well going forward from here for Mumbai Indians. Mhambrey also lavished praise on the pacer for his dedication and experience mentioned that one mistake should not overshadow the bowling contributions he made during the tournament. Chahar, who joined MI a few years ago, has been an integral part of the team bowling line up as well and continues to be one of India’s most experienced bowlers in T20 formats.
Mumbai Indians struggled to handle pressure and it came out on the day when they lost against KKR. Although their batting and bowling units have had their moments of brilliance, fielding standards have let the side down in crunch situations. Now, the team management wants the players to soon overcome this defeat and finish the season on a high note.
Mumbai Indians will need to execute much better on all fronts now that the IPL is in its decisive phase if they want their playoff prospects still alive. Franchises are also looking for senior players like Chahar to come back into form in the remaining matches and help them bring their lost momentum.
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