[WATCH] IPL 2026: 'Very, very average' - R Ashwin slams Hardik Pandya's bizarre call in MI vs RCB clash

The Mumbai Indians were beaten by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 18 runs at the Wankhede Stadium on April 12 in Match 22 of the 2026 Indian Premier League.

The defending champions put on a massive 240/4 after being put into bat, courtesy a 36-ball 78 from Phil Salt and a 20-ball 53 from captain Rajat Patidar. One of the key moments of the innings was Mumbai skipper Hardik Pandya giving the ball to Mayank Markande in the 11th over.

Patidar, who had just walked in after Salt was dismissed in the

previous over, is one of the most feared spin-hitters in the league. Coming in to bowl in the 11th over, Markande was hit for three consecutive sixes, which helped RCB extend the momentum after the fall of the English opener.

Ashwin criticised this decision, terming it as an average one given to Patidar’s well-known prowess against spinners. Notably, the RCB captain has struck at over 200 against spinners in IPL 2026.

"Rajat Patidar is a monster hitter against spinners. When he came to bat, you gave the ball to Markande straight away? Not the smartest of moves. Very, very average. It is very important to understand what Markande thinks. Patidar hit him and washed him in Hyderabad, and here, he hit him from the very first ball again."

Watch the video here:

Ashwin anna cooked the captaincy of Hardik Pandya in a very unique way without even taking his name 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/Z9ZA3gtR6O

— Kusha Sharma  (@Kushacritic) April 12, 2026

'Repeat of 2024' - Ashwin on Markande-Patidar battle

Ashwin referenced a match from 2024, where Markande, playing for SRH, was taken for four sixes in an over by Patidar, in a clash against RCB. 

"This SRH vs RCB 2024 game was where Rajat Patidar announced that he is a spin hitter. He was hitting Markande into every corner. There are some common things between these two big overs. The first ball was taken by Virat Kohli, he took a single, and everything else was the same. There he hit four sixes, here he hit three," Ashwin highlighted.

Aswhin further added that Mumbai’s spinners were taken for 83 runs in the six overs that they bowled. Markande bowled two overs for 40 runs, while New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner went for 43 runs in his four. Santner was hit for 22 runs in his first over in the powerplay, but recovered well to give just 21 in his next three overs, including the prized wicket of Patidar.

"Here, the difference is between 210 and 240. Mayank Markande: two overs, 40 runs. Today, the spinners went for 83 runs total. I think Santner went for 43 as well,” Ashwin added.

The Mumbai Indians have now lost three games on the bounce and find themselves languishing in eighth place in the table.