Mumbai Indians rookie batter Nehal Wahera is optimistic that his team will be able to qualify for the playoff despite their fifth loss of the season against Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium, Jaipur on Monday. MI lost by nine wickets and Wadhera said they will need to win the remaining six matches to qualify for the last four.

Meanwhile, Wadhera played a fine knock of 49 runs off just 24 balls with the help of three fours and four sixes. The left-hander joined forces with Tilak Varma when MI was tottering at 52-4. Wadhera added a fine alliance of 99 runs with Varma, who scored a crucial knock of 65 runs, for the fifth wicket.

But their efforts went in vain as the inaugural champions won with eight balls to spare after Yashasvi Jaiswal scored an unbeaten 104 runs.

“MI need to win all their games from here and we need to tighten our socks. We need to raise our game and figure out where we have been going wrong or where we have been going right so that we can rectify our mistakes whenever we return,” Wadhera said after the match.

Wahdera admitted that they have been in similar waters on previous occasions and they know how to come back in the tournament.

“We have been in such a situation in earlier seasons as well, and we have, you know, upped our game from there and qualified. So, we are optimistic even right now. We will continue the process we are following and win the games for the team. We win as a team, and we lose as a team,” Wadhera said.

Wadhera missed his fifty by one run but said the personal milestones take the backburner in the interest of the team.

“In T20s, individual scores only matter a little for me and other players. The result that matters is that Mumbai Indians should win,” Nehal said on the matter.

Mumbai Indians will next take on Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Saturday.