3 min readApr 13, 2026 11:15 AM IST Mumbai Indians’ decision to bank on spin against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru who have at least a couple of slow-bowling devourers backfired heavily at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday night. Former India off-spinner R Ashwin slammed Hardik and MI’s tactical decisions to feed spin to RCB skipper Rajat Patidar whose swashbuckling fifty pivoted the game away from MI’s control. Drafting in Mitchell Santner and leg-spinner Mayank Markande back into the playing XI at the expense of an additional seamer, captain Hardik Pandya opted to bowl first before a mountain of runs buried the hosts to their third straight defeat. ALSO READ | If Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal won’t get you, Phil Salt and Rajat Patidar would…what makes RCB a deadly batting firm As Patidar – arguably the best batter against spin in the league – walked in to bat at No. 3 in the 11th over, Hardik immediately turned to leggie Markande who was taken to the cleaners. Ashwin slammed the odd decision from the five-time …