Mumbai Indians coach says dropped catches are part of the game as team looks to finish disappointing season strongly
Paras Mhambrey has defended Deepak Chahar after his costly fielding lapses during Mumbai Indians’ loss to Kolkata Knight Riders, insisting the team will not single out players despite a frustrating campaign.
Mumbai’s ninth defeat in 13 matches effectively ended their playoff hopes, but Mhambrey said the focus remains on improving performances and finishing the season positively.
“Our preparation is simple: look at winning games,” Mhambrey said after the defeat. “What we can control is going out there and playing quality cricket and trying to win.”
Fielding once again hurt MI, with Chahar involved in two major misjudgments during KKR’s chase.
The first came in the 10th over when Rovman Powell top-edged a pull shot. Chahar and Robin Minz both moved towards the catch, but hesitation between the two allowed the ball to drop safely.
Later in the innings, Chahar was again involved in confusion while chasing a scoop from Tejasvi Dahiya. Wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton sprinted after the ball from behind the stumps, narrowly avoiding a collision with Chahar as the chance went begging.
Mhambrey, however, refused to blame Chahar for the mistakes.
“No one drops catches on purpose. It just happens, it’s part of the game,” he said. “I’m definitely not going to put Deepak under the train out here.”
The MI coach also pointed out that positives in the field should not be ignored, highlighting Corbin Bosch’s brilliant catch earlier in the innings to dismiss Powell.
Despite criticism over their catching this season, Mumbai have not been among the worst fielding sides statistically. According to available data, MI have dropped 14 catches this season — fewer than several other teams, including Punjab Kings, who lead the list with 19 drops.
Mhambrey added that players often overthink situations late in matches while trying to make a decisive impact, which can sometimes lead to errors in communication.
Mumbai will now return to the Wankhede Stadium for their final league-stage fixture against Rajasthan Royals as they aim to close out a disappointing IPL 2026 season with a home victory.
