Mumbai Indians suffered another defeat in the Indian Premier League 2024. Chennai Super Kings beat them by 20 runs to register their fourth victory in the 17th season. Former India player Irfan Pathan again lashed out at MI captain Hardik Pandya and blamed him.
Since returning to the franchise and replacing Rohit Sharma as captain, Hardik has been ordinary as a captain and player. In the most recent game, he took two wickets but conceded 43 runs from his three overs. MS Dhoni hit him for three consecutive sixes in the last over of CSK’s innings, and that proved to be the difference in the end.
Irfan highlighted two incidents from the game that contributed to Mumbai’s loss. “Hardik hasn’t been good as a captain from the start. In the game against CSK, Akash Madhwal was supposed to bowl the last over, and he had reached the bowling mark. However, Hardik took the ball from his hand and decided to bring himself on. Dhoni slammed him for 20 runs in four balls, and that was the margin of defeat,” Irfan Pathan said on Star Sports.
Irfan spoke about another similar incident. “When Shreyas Gopal dismissed Rachin Ravindra, Hardik should have used him for another over. However, Hardik gave him a chance and conceded 15 runs. Hardik will have to understand that there are other bowlers who can do the job for him. If he doesn’t trust them, there is no way he can succeed as a skipper,” Irfan Pathan added.
“Hardik is a not a death over specialist and he should refrain from bowling in death overs,” he concluded.
