Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Hardik Pandya's tactics have come under the scanner following his team’s five-wicket defeat against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL 2025 Qualifier 2 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

In the knockout fixture, the five-time champions failed to defend a big total of 203 and hence crashed out of the tournament.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, former Australia all-rounder Tom Moody questioned Hardik’s decision to not bowl his full quota of four overs and rather trusting England pacer Reece Topley, who was featuring in his first match of the IPL 2025 season.

Hardik bowled just two overs, conceding 19 runs and claiming the prized scalp of Josh Inglis. The all-rounder would have had another wicket if not for Trent Boult’s drop catch to give lifeline to Nehal Wadhera.

However, after his second over, Hardik opted to not bowl himself. On the other hand, Topley had a tough outing as he leaked 40 runs in his three overs and failed to take a wicket.

“Hardik should have had a two-for. That second over, that catch that you'd expect Trent Boult to take 99 times out of 100. He fresh-aired it. Not even a firm glove on it. He should have bowled. He was executing what was required on that surface,” Moody said.

“And that was an opportunity that was missed. He should have had a two-for, and I agree, he should have come back and grabbed the bull by the horns, and said, 'Right, okay, I'm going to bowl in here,” he added.

Moody further stated that Topley looked like a bowler “conditioned for nets”. However, he also sympathized with the left-armer, considering that it was his first match of the IPL 2025 season.

"Topley looked like a bowler that was conditioned for nets but way off the mark for real, high-pressure, competitive cricket," Moody said.

“That's what he was missing. It's very hard to come from being on top of your game, feeling you've got rhythm, bowling good areas in the nets, to suddenly transferring that to a pressure-game situation,” he remarked.

Chasing 204 to win, PBKS needed someone to bat with control and authority. Shreyas Iyer stepped up and delivered a knock that combined calculated aggression with clarity under pressure.

The PBKS captain slammed 87 not out off 41 balls (5 fours and 8 sixes) to take his team over the finishing line with an over to spare. He was ably supported by Nehal Wadhera (48 off 29) and Josh Inglis (38 off 21).

Hardik Pandya also didn't utilise Mitchell Santner for his full quota. Moody felt the Kiwi spinner was not called upon for his last two overs because of Shreyas Iyer's presence in the middle.

“I think Hardik looked at it because we knew that there were a couple of match-ups against Nehal and he didn't want to get the game away from him,” said Moody.

With this win, Punjab Kings reached their first IPL final since 2014 and will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru on June 3 at the Narendra Modi Stadium.