MI are on verge of being eliminated from IPL 2026 with 2 wins from 9 games.
Mumbai's chances of making the playoffs are all but gone after their seventh defeat of the year, which put them in ninth place in the standings.
In addition to criticizing Hardik for his 18 off 23 with the bat on a two-paced Chepauk track, Srikkanth also took issue with his choice not to bowl during the powerplay. Rather, the young Krish Bhagat received the new ball from the MI captain and let up eighteen runs.
The 1983 World Cup winner highlighted Hardik's batting difficulties and asserted that he was "scared" to bowl with the new ball, claiming that opponents had figured him out.
“Hardik Pandya can’t lay a bat on a ball, and with the ball also, he is scared. He gives Krish Bhagat the ball in the power play instead of bowling himself. Teams are smashing Bhagat, yet Hardik is scared to bowl in the powerplay.
Hardik Pandya is playing terribly. You are the captain. They had no clue in the middle and end overs. What was Hardik Pandya even trying to do? It was hard to understand. Hereafter, no one will feed him balls on a length. They’ll bowl into the body and tuck him up. Teams are completely locking him up,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.
Apart from Pandya, Srikkanth was also critical of Tilak Varma. Varma made only 5 runs off 8 balls for MI against CSK, and Srikkanth urged MI to drop Varma, citing his poor outing this season.
“Tilak Varma then ate ball after ball, and that’s where the pressure started. He is playing so ordinarily. Barring that one century, he has struggled big time this season. One sunny day doesn’t make a summer. Likewise, just one good knock won’t do. He should be dropped. He is batting horribly. They must bring in a new batter instead,” Srikkanth said.
Mumbai will play their next game against bottom-placed Lucknow Super Giants on May 4 at Wankhede Stadium.