Indian batter Hanuma Vihar has put his weight behind the Mumbai Indians to make the IPL 2026 playoffs. MI has got off to a poor start in IPL 2026, managing a win and two losses in their first three games of the season.
The five-time champions are known to be slow starters and won their first game in the IPL this season after a long gap of 13 years when they defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets.
MI suffered a 27-run loss against Rajasthan Royals on Tuesday and with this loss, they were pushed down to seventh place in the IPL standings.
“I think MI will make the top four. They are struggling but still have the firepower. RCB definitely. SRH have to play out of their skin. CSK need some time this year. There are chances they will finish mid-table or once again at the bottom. Something has to work for them. Brevis needs to come back, Dhoni needs to come back, then maybe there is some chance,” Vihari said on his YouTube channel.
Vihari highlighted that MI has been forced to make some changes to their playing XI after Hardik Pandya was unavailable against DC due to illness.
“For MI, first, Hardik was unavailable. Then he came back and they dropped Santner and Corbin Bosch. There have been wholesale changes which is unlike Mumbai. They make changes here and there but this year they have been making changes. They are struggling. In the batting, Rohit scored runs in the first match but got a start in the second and failed in the third. Consistency is lacking in their batting. In the bowling as well, they are giving away runs in every match. They look like a one-dimensional bowling attack and need to correct it. Bumrah has not been at his best as well,” he stated.
On the other hand, Vihari said RCB is playing like a champion team, and they can dominate further if their opener Phil Salt comes back into form.
“RCB looks like one of the most solid teams. RR, RCB, and Punjab Kings. They have played the perfect kind of cricket at home (RCB). We have to see how they do away, but they are playing like champions. Everyone is in form and there are no problems. Phil Salt, if he also comes into form, it will be a total team dominance. Overall, they do not have to make any changes as such and are looking like a champion unit,” he said.
RCB has won both of their matches so far.
