Hardik Pandya (BCCI/IPL Photo)

NEW DELHI: Once languishing at the bottom of the IPL 2025 points table, Mumbai Indians have staged a remarkable turnaround with six consecutive wins that have reignited their playoff hopes. The Hardik Pandya-led side now sits fourth on the table with 14 points from 12 matches, registering 7 wins and 5 losses.Mumbai’s stunning resurgence has drawn praise from legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, who commended both the team and captain Hardik Pandya for the transformation.“What we saw from last year to this year has been the fact that he also got the support of the crowd backing him. Last year, he would have been a little bit unsettled by the fact that the Mumbai crowd and the Mumbai supporters were not really backing him so much,” Gavaskar said during a Star Sports Press Room session.“But this year, they are all behind him. And they are all urging him to go on to win. They have got one game at home on the 21st,” he added.Gavaskar highlighted Pandya’s composed demeanor on the field as a key factor in the team’s resurgence.“And that is where we will see how they come back. And the way they have come back, we are talking about his thinking and we are talking about how his calming influence is. That is because he has not shown any emotions on the field. When there has been a misfield, when there has been a drop catch, he has just turned on his back and he has gone back to his fielding position,” he said.

“A lot of times, when the captain has a little bit of gesticulations, then the fielder also gets a little bit nervous. But he hasn’t done that. And so that’s the reason why Mumbai Indians have come back so well. They normally do that. And once again, this year, I am hoping, as a Mumbai Indians fan, that they will continue to go on to win,” Gavaskar concluded.Mumbai Indians will now face Delhi Capitals on May 21, followed by Punjab Kings on May 26 in their final league matches.