Mumbai, the defending champions, have played six games in the competition so far and won just one of them. The latest reversal, against Sunrisers Hyderabad, was particularly disappointing, as they kept the target to just 119 but collapsed to 87 all out in 18.5 overs.

That left Mumbai, the only team to win the tournament three times, fighting for survival at seventh place on the eight-team table with eight games left to play in the group stage.

“It was a touch slow, not the usual wicket, which we knew when we bowled first. We knew that with the hardness of the ball, the first six overs will be a bit harder for us because it will grip a bit more, and they had a couple of guys who swing the ball. Against the off-spinner we batted really well, tactically. But after that what was needed was more sensible batting, which we didn’t get,” said Jayawardene.

“Even at the last bit, we were looking at six-seven runs an over. We should have taken it into the last four-five overs with a couple of recognised batsmen. Should have gotten through, which we didn’t do.”

Mumbai next play Chennai Super Kings, No.2 on the table, in Pune on Saturday, a match they must win to keep alive their hopes of making a late surge into the playoffs.