Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Hardik Pandya‘s batting woes continued in IPL 2024. Came in at number seven against Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Monday, he could only manage a meagre 10 runs from 10 balls, including just one boundary. This came as MI struggled to build a decent total throughout their innings.
Following Hardik’s underwhelming performance, former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan raised questions about the captain’s current hitting form.
Irfan Pathan raises concerns on Hardik Pandya’s striking ability
Hardik, known for his aggressive batting and ability to clear boundaries, has been experiencing a dip in form in IPL 2024. This has even led him to bat lower down the order in recent matches. Following Pandya’s struggles, Pathan questioned his approach, particularly on pitches like the batting-friendly Wankhede Stadium, where bowlers receive minimal assistance.
“Hardik Pandya’s hitting ability is going down. That’s a big worry on a larger picture. At the wankhede he is different but on pitches where there is little help is what is worrisome for him,” said Pathan.
Hardik Pandya’s hitting ability is going down. That’s a big worry on a larger picture. At the wankhede he is different but on pitches where there is little help is what is worrisome for him.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 22, 2024
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Hardik’s performance in IPL 2024
Hardik’s tenure as MI’s captain in IPL 2024 has been marked by both on-field struggles and fan criticism. Taking over the reins from Rohit Sharma in the 17th season, Hardik has faced public disapproval for some of his decision. This has been compounded by his own underwhelming performance with both bat and ball. He has managed only 151 runs in 8 matches with a strike rate of 142, and his bowling figures are equally concerning, conceding 186 runs with an economy of 11 in 6 matches while taking only 4 wickets.
These individual struggles have translated into captaincy challenges. With only 3 wins in 8 matches, some of Hardik’s decisions have been questioned as contributing factors to MI’s losses. Consequently, MI currently finds itself in a precarious position at 7th in the points table. To qualify for the playoffs, they will need to win all their remaining matches.