Hardik Pandya’s captaincy debut for the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the 2024 IPL season has come under fire following their narrow six-run defeat to the Gujarat Titans. A key talking point has been Pandya’s decision to bat at No. 7, a move that surprised many, including his former teammate, Mohammed Shami.
Shami, speaking on Cricbuzz, expressed his disapproval of the batting order, stating, “Hardik at No. 7 basically becomes a tailender.” He believes that Pandya’s late arrival at the crease added unnecessary pressure and potentially cost MI the match. “When you come to bat at No. 7, you are coming in with a lot of pressure. I think if Hardik would have come earlier, the match would not have gone till the last over.”
Dhoni vs. Pandya: Different Strokes for Different Folks?
Shami acknowledged comparisons between Pandya’s batting approach and that of former Indian captain MS Dhoni, known for his late-innings heroics. However, he argued against such comparisons, stating, “Dhoni is Dhoni. You cannot compare anyone. Everyone has a different mindset, whether it is Dhoni or Kohli.” He believes that Pandya’s strengths lie in batting higher up the order, a position he successfully filled for the Gujarat Titans.
Shami further questioned whether the decision to bat Pandya at No. 7 was solely made by the captain himself. He pointed out Pandya’s success at No. 3 and 4 for the Gujarat Titans and suggested a possible influence from the MI coaching staff, particularly head coach Mark Boucher.
“In Gujarat, I feel, only two people were running the game, Hardik and [Head Coach, Ashish] Nehra,” Shami said. “In Mumbai dugout there are some big names present. So probably they might have influenced him to drop down the order because they have invested a lot on young players like Tilak Varma and Brevis.”
Tiwary Supports Shami’s Suspicions
Former Indian cricketer Manoj Tiwary, also part of the Cricbuzz discussion, echoed Shami’s sentiment. He believes that the batting order decision likely involved more than just Pandya. “I feel it wasn’t his call,” Tiwary stated. He suggested that Boucher might consult with legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, a mentor for the Mumbai Indians, before making such crucial decisions.
“Mark Boucher will obviously listen to Sachin…he will then discuss with other members of the team management and then decide,” Tiwary said.
Uncertainty Surrounds MI’s Batting Strategy
Shami and Tiwary’s comments raise questions about the dynamic within the Mumbai Indians’ leadership. Whether Pandya has complete autonomy over batting order decisions or if there’s a collaborative approach involving the coaching staff and potentially Sachin Tendulkar remains unclear.
With the IPL season still young, all eyes will be on how the Mumbai Indians address their batting strategy and whether Pandya will take a more aggressive approach with the bat in upcoming matches.
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