In a post-match analysis that has sent ripples through the cricketing world, former Indian pace bowler Irfan Pathan has taken aim at the strategic decisions made by newly appointed Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Hardik Pandya during their recent clash against Gujarat Titans (GT). Pathan’s outrage came after Mumbai Indian’s failed to win another season opener.
Hardik Pandya could have come up in the order – Irfan Pathan
Pathan’s critique stems from Pandya’s positioning in the batting order during the nail-biting encounter, where MI fell short by a margin of six runs. Pandya, who surprisingly entered the fray at No. 7, faced off against ace spinner Rashid Khan in the penultimate over of the match. Despite a quick-fire 11 off 4 deliveries, Pandya’s dismissal left MI with a challenging task of needing nine runs off three balls.
Expressing his dismay, Pathan remarked,
“When they were chasing, they sent Tim David higher up the order. He sent Tim David when Rashid Khan had an over left. I felt Hardik Pandya maybe didn’t want to face Rashid Khan after having not played cricket for a long time,”
Wrong choices for Hardik Pandya in bowling department as well
Adding fuel to the fire, Pathan also criticized Pandya’s decision to bowl two overs in the powerplay himself, opting to introduce premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah only in the fourth over. Despite Pandya’s efforts with the ball, Bumrah’s delayed entry into the attack raised eyebrows among cricket pundits.
“Hardik Pandya made big mistakes in the match. In the powerplay, he bowled two overs himself, that was a big mistake. He brought Jasprit Bumrah into the attack a bit late,”
Reflecting on Pandya’s bowling tactics, Pathan said.
What’s next for Mumbai in IPL 2024?
Despite Pandya’s missteps, Bumrah’s exceptional performance saw him clinch three wickets for a mere 14 runs in four overs, highlighting his prowess in the bowling department. With Mumbai Indians’ season opener defeat marking their 12th consecutive loss since 2013, the spotlight now shifts to Pandya’s leadership as he seeks redemption in their upcoming fixture against the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Wednesday, March 27.
Read More: IPL 2024: Hardik Pandya’s Unique Stance After Failing To Chase 169 Runs Against Gujarat Titans (GT)