New Delhi, March 24 -- The absence of Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah made it difficult for Mumbai Indians as the five-time champions lost to Chennai Super Kings on Sunday in their opening encounter of 18th season of Indian Premier League (IPL). Mumbai Indians lost by four wickets.

In the process, Mumbai Indians lost their opening encounters of an IPL season for the 13th consecutive time. The previous instance of Mumbai Indians winning their opening game in an IPL season happened in 2012, long before Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya made their IPL debuts.

Debutant Vignesh Puthur's three-wicket haul offered slender hope, but the result looked inevitable from the time Mumbai Indians lost captain Suryakumar Yadav in the 11th over of the f...