Paras Mhambrey Backs Deepak Chahar After Mumbai Indians’ Catching Woes

Moving Forward with Professionalism

The Mumbai Indians (MI) campaign for the IPL 2026 season officially concluded on May 8, as the team failed to secure a spot in the playoffs. With four matches remaining in the league stage and several weeks of cricket still ahead, the challenge for the coaching staff and players is to maintain motivation despite having nothing left to gain in terms of tournament progression. For MI assistant coach Paras Mhambrey, the objective remains clear: continue to deliver quality cricket.

“Our preparation is simple: look at winning the games. That’s what we’ve been doing,” Mhambrey stated following the loss to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). “The focus on this game, as well as earlier games, is winning. We want to evaluate how to construct the team and what lessons we can carry into the next fixture to secure a victory.”

Addressing Fielding Challenges

Fielding has been a major point of discussion throughout the season, and the recent match against KKR put the spotlight on Deepak Chahar. Two specific incidents during the game highlighted the difficulties faced by the team in the field. The first incident occurred in the tenth over, when a top-edged pull from Rovman Powell landed between Chahar and Robin Minz, despite both players being in position to make the catch. Later, in the 18th over, a mix-up nearly resulted in a collision between Ryan Rickelton and Chahar while attempting to catch a scoop from Tejasvi Dahiya.

However, Mhambrey was quick to deflect any blame, emphasizing that errors are an inherent part of the sport. “No one does it on purpose. You drop catches. It just happens; it is part of the game,” he noted. “It is not something we are going to dwell too much on. While in hindsight those catches could have changed the momentum, I am not going to blame anyone. We saw brilliance elsewhere, such as the catch from Corbin Bosch, which helps balance the narrative.”

Statistical Context

While the focus on catching errors has been intense, data suggests that Mumbai Indians are not the worst offenders in the league. According to ball-by-ball analysis, MI have dropped 14 catches this season. This performance places them as the fourth-most efficient team in terms of fielding, sitting in a much better position than teams like the Punjab Kings, who lead the charts with 19 dropped catches.

Mentality and Future Focus

Mhambrey offered insight into the mindset of a player during high-pressure moments, particularly regarding the confusion that led to the dropped catch off Dahiya. “There are too many things happening. You are constantly thinking about how you can make a difference in the over that is left. It is not the first time this has happened, and it is sure to happen again. I will not put Deepak under the train; definitely not,” the coach asserted.

As the team returns to the Wankhede Stadium for their final fixture against the Rajasthan Royals, the goal is to leverage their knowledge of home conditions. “You need to find a way to win. It is like a home game for us. We know the surface well,” Mhambrey concluded. With the final match scheduled as an afternoon game, both sides will need to adapt to the changing conditions, providing MI with one final opportunity to showcase their resilience before the season concludes.

Conclusion

The Mumbai Indians’ season may not have gone according to plan, but the message from the coaching staff is one of support and continued professional growth. By focusing on individual contributions and maintaining a positive team culture, the side aims to finish the tournament with their heads held high, regardless of their position on the table.