Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has taken aim at Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya following their 31-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad in the ongoing IPL season. Pathan criticized both Pandya’s batting approach and his captaincy decisions during the high-scoring encounter.
Lackluster Batting Raises Concerns
Chasing a mammoth 278-run target set by SRH, Pandya’s batting failed to meet expectations. While other batsmen like Rohit Sharma and Tilak Varma displayed aggressive intent, Pandya managed only 24 runs off 20 balls, with a strike rate of just 120. This sluggish knock drew criticism from Pathan, who took to social media to express his disappointment.
“If the whole team is playing with the strike of 200, Captain can’t bat with the batting strike rate of 120,” Pathan wrote on his X handle (formerly Twitter). This statement highlights the disparity between Pandya’s batting and the aggressive approach needed to chase down such a high total.
Captaincy Decisions Under Scrutiny
Pathan also questioned some of Pandya’s captaincy calls during the match. A key point of contention was Pandya’s decision to delay introducing Jasprit Bumrah into the bowling attack. With the SRH batsmen in top gear, particularly after the middle-order onslaught from Heinrich Klaasen and Aiden Markram, Pathan felt Bumrah’s pace and experience were crucial.
“The captaincy of Hardik Pandya has been ordinary to say the least,” Pathan stated. “Keeping Bumrah away for too long when the carnage was on was beyond my understanding.” This critique suggests that Pandya’s bowling strategy lacked the necessary flexibility to adapt to the changing momentum of the match.
Impact on Mumbai Indians
Pandya’s performance, both with the bat and as captain, has sparked discussions about his leadership and decision-making abilities. The hefty defeat against SRH has put pressure on MI, who are looking to turn their season around after losing their first two matches.
With the IPL season still young, it remains to be seen how Pandya will respond to these criticisms. Whether he can address the concerns raised by Pathan and other experts will be crucial for MI’s chances of success in the remaining matches.
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