Hardik Pandya is having a hard time while leading Mumbai Indians (MI) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The all-rounder completed a high-profile trade from Gujarat Titans (GT) to MI ahead of IPL 2024 and replaced Rohit Sharma as skipper.
Under his leadership, the five-time champions have lost eight of their 11 games so far and they are placed at the ninth spot in the 10-team points table.
On Friday (May 3), MI suffered a comprehensive 24-run defeat at the hands of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Wankhede Stadium. With this loss, Mumbai’s chances of qualifying for the playoffs are all but over.
After the game, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan slammed Hardik Pandya’s captaincy again, questioning his decision of bringing part timer Naman Dhir when KKR were struggling at 57/5 in 6.1 overs.
“Mumbai Indians story is over now. This team looks so good on the paper but it has not been managed properly by their captain Hardik Pandya. The questions raised on Hardik Pandya’s captaincy were correct,” Pathan said in a video posted on his Instagram account.
“Today again KKR were reeling at 57 for 5 and he introduced their sixth bowler Naman Dhir and gave him three overs. There was no point giving your sixth bowler, three overs on a trot when the opposition is under so much pressure.
“He should have brought back his main bowlers and could have bowled KKR out cheaply. Venketesh Iyer and Manish Pandey put on a 83-run stand and when you could have stopped KKR under 150, that partnership helped them to get to 170, which at the end proved to be the difference,” he added.
“In cricket, captaincy is very important. One should know how to manage their resources well. Hardik again failed to manage his team. Mumbai Indians are not looking as a team that is playing together. A big question for Mumbai Indians now is how they are going to get everyone united under their captain. The players must accept their captain and also start respecting him,” he further stated.
Chasing 170 to win, MI’s innings folded for 145 in 18.5 overs against KKR. Suryakumar Yadav fought a lone battle with the willow as he scored 56 off 35 balls while no other batter managed to touch the 30-run mark.
Left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc starred with the ball for KKR, returning with the figures of 4/33 in his 3.5 overs.
Irfan Pathan was full of praise for KKR, who registered their first victory at the Wankhede Stadium since 2013.
“With Mitchell Starc back in form, KKR are looking as a dangerous unit. The only weak link in this team was Starc’s bowling and now the way he has bowled specially against Tim David, it was remarkable,” Pathan remarked.
