Hardik, who returned to action and took charge of MI, and Tilak Varma were slow in the middle overs. They made 26 off 27 and 20 off 32 respectively, combining for the worst strike rate for Nos. 5 and 6 in an IPL innings when both played at least 20 balls.

“We were 20 short,” Hardik said at the post-match presentation. “I think we lost a lot of wickets in powerplay, but if Tilak [Varma] or I would have stayed longer and if we would have stitched a couple of more partnerships and those 15-20 runs, I think we would have had a decent chance.”

The pitch at Kolkata was anything but easy. KKR’s Rovman Powell described it as a “typical Caribbean wicket” on which the ball was stopping. Only 295 runs were scored and 14 wickets fell across 38.5 overs in the game. The pitch wasn’t typical of the IPL but was one that Hardik liked.

“I don’t mind playing on this sort of wickets,” Hardik said, “where bowlers have something to do. I think IPL is becoming quite batting dominant, bowlers are feeling helpless. I think, today’s game gave bowlers a lot of something from wicket which makes them come and bowl some good balls, make batsmen play some good cricket and score runs. So, yeah, I kind of enjoyed it.”

Despite the low score, MI were in with a decent chance to win the game when KKR were 73 for 3 after nine overs. Two chances were dropped in the two overs that followed, allowing Powell and Manish Pandey to stitch a match-winning 64-run stand.

“I don’t know [what went wrong with the fielding]. I think, we, throughout the season, we’ve been, quite poor in fielding,” Hardik said. “We have dropped a lot of catches, which obviously no one wants to do it, but, in that part of the game, I think, there is no hiding away.

“If you get chances, if you want to win games, you need to grab all the chances, even half-chances as well. But yeah, when you drop chances which can change the game, it’s always you’re chasing the game.”