Former Australian captain Aaron Finch has issued a warning about Mumbai Indians (MI) ahead of their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Dharamsala. Despite MI's low position on the points table, Finch emphasized that a team with 'nothing to lose' can be the most dangerous opponent.
Finch's Warning About MI
Speaking on Jiohotstar, Finch said, "Regardless of where Mumbai Indians are on the ladder, you know they're coming hard at you. They've got everything to gain by contributing to knocking out a team, and that's what you play for when you get down to this part of the season, when you can't qualify yourself." MI are set to face Punjab Kings on Thursday, with the pressure on Shreyas Iyer's team to snap their four-match losing streak.
Punjab Kings' Fielding Woes
Finch also expressed his admiration for PBKS's style of play but was blunt about their poor fielding. Punjab Kings have dropped crucial catches at pivotal moments this season, costing them important points in their last four matches. After going unbeaten in their first seven games, PBKS lost four consecutive matches. They have dropped the most chances this season, with 19 catches missed. All-rounder Shashank Singh has dropped five catches on his own, accounting for 26.32% of the dropped chances for last year's runner-up.
Coaches' Concerns
Following Shashank's drop against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), head coach Ricky Ponting said, "It has been a bit of a virus for us. We have put a lot of catches down this season." Spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule also expressed concern, noting five catches dropped in the last two matches. "At the crucial time, we are dropping a catch, which unfortunately is breaking the momentum we were getting. But we will definitely look into it and see how we can just turn it around for ourselves," Bahutule said.
Finch's Hope for PBKS
A former PBKS player himself, Finch remains hopeful of Punjab's playoff chances and urged the players to take the chances that have cost them points in recent matches. "I hope Punjab do qualify for playoffs, because I like the way they go about it. Just start catching well, please! You are costing yourself so many opportunities," Finch added. Emphasizing the unforgiving nature of the game, he noted, "Cricket's hard. It is brutal at the best of times, and you can't give the best players in the world chances over and over to beat you."
