The Indian Premier League games between the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Mumbai Indians (MI) are typically quite competitive. Even though MI has a sizable trophy advantage over RCB, their rivalry is still among the fiercest in the T20 league. But in Sunday's IPL 2026 season match between the two teams, Bengaluru decisively defeated Mumbai. Experts like Ravichandran Ashwin believe that Hardik Pandya's leadership, especially the bowling choices he made against Rajat Patidar, was a major factor in RCB's resounding triumph.

R Ashwin, a former spinner for India, didn't hold back while pointing out the mistakes Hardik made when choosing his bowling choices. In a video posted to his YouTube channel, Ashwin displayed the scorecard from a 2024 Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Royal Challengers Bengaluru match in which Patidar smacked Markande for four sixes in a single over.
Despite being aware of Patidar's reputation as a formidable hitter against spin, Ashwin questioned MI's choice to give the ball to Markande. Ultimately, in the eleventh over of the innings, the RCB hitter blasted three straight sixes off Markande."Rajat Patidar revealed that he is a spin hitter during this SRH vs. RCB 2024 match. In the video, Ashwin stated, "He was hitting Markande into every corner."These two major overs have certain characteristics in common. Virat Kohli took the opening ball, scoring a single, and the rest of the game was the same. Ashwin emphasised, "Not The Smartest Of Moves, Very Average." "There he hit four sixes, here he hit three."
Ashwin was direct in his assessment, saying that Hardik's decision to play into Patidar's advantages wasn't the best one. At an economy rate of 20.00, Markande ultimately let up 40 runs in just two overs."When it comes to hitting spinners, Rajat Patidar is a monster. You immediately handed the ball to Markande when he came to bat? Not the best course of action. "Very, very average."It's critical to comprehend Markande's perspective. In Hyderabad, Patidar struck him and washed him; here, he struck him from the first ball once again."
Despite bowling his allotted four overs, Mitchell Santner, MI's second spinner for the match, let up 43 runs. In just six overs, Mumbai lost 83 runs against spinners alone."In this case, the difference is between 210 and 240. Mayank Markande: 40 runs in two overs. The spinners scored a total of 83 runs today. I believe Santner also went for 43.