The Indian Premier League is going on and the fans are enjoying some nail-biting fixtures. But since the beginning of the tournament, Mumbai Indians have been struggling with the form. They lost three consecutive matches and standing in the last position of the points table. After those defeats, captain Hardik Pandya faced immense criticism. Former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu made his remarks on this issue.
Mumbai’s Worst Defeat Against RR:
The Mumbai Indians endured a disastrous start to the match as Rohit Sharma departed without scoring, compounding their early woes. Naman Dhir and Dewald Brevis followed suit with golden ducks, escalating the pressure on Mumbai. Despite Ishan Kishan’s resilient 16 runs, Mumbai struggled for stability. Tilak Verma’s cameo of 32 runs offered a glimmer of hope, but Mumbai’s total of 125/9 in 20 overs fell short.
In the second innings, Mumbai’s bowling faltered, allowing Rajasthan Royals to capitalize on their momentum. Kwena Maphaka dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal early for 10 runs, but Akash Madhwal’s stellar performance, claiming three wickets for just 20 runs, proved decisive. Despite efforts, Mumbai couldn’t contain Rajasthan’s batting onslaught, resulting in another defeat for the struggling franchise.
Sidhu’s Suggestion for Hardik Pandya:
Former Indian cricketer and renowned commentator, Navjot Singh Sidhu, advised the under-pressure Mumbai Indians skipper. Sidhu stated that if MI had won their previous two matches, Pandya’s captaincy would be praised. However, after their losses, Pandya needs to reflect on his team’s combination, especially after conceding the highest-ever IPL total against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Sidhu said, “There is nothing that succeeds like success. If Mumbai Indians had won the last two games, everyone would have been silent. I think he (Pandya) should focus on the team combination. When you concede 277 runs, everyone screams that your bowling is not good enough. How could a team score 277 when it was unprecedented in the tournament? The other game (against GT) was a close one. They were defeated, not disgraced.”
Learning from MS Dhoni:
Sidhu encouraged Pandya to emulate the legendary MS Dhoni, known for finding suitable replacements for injured or out-of-form players. He suggested that Pandya should draw inspiration from Dhoni’s ability to manage team dynamics effectively, especially during challenging times like Mumbai Indians’ current situation.
He said, “Look at what Dhoni does. When Devon Conway, who was the leading run-getter for him last season, got injured, he got in Rachin Ravindra, who is similar and somewhat better. He needs to find that kind of replacement or he will be exposed.”
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