Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya is under strict scrutiny following his underwhelming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 campaign as Mumbai Indians (MI) suffered yet another loss on Monday (April 22).
MI were handed a nine-wicket defeat to Rajasthan Royals and Pandya, once again, failed to deliver as he only scored 10 runs with the bat and conceded 37 in four overs with the ball.
The five-time IPL winners are now seventh in the IPL points table with just three wins from eight matches as their chances of qualifying for the playoffs continue to shrink.
Former Indian cricketer and a member of the 2007 T20 World Cup winning team, Irfan Pathan, urged that Pandya is finding out “easy ways” of regaining his form and should the trend continue, he would soon become a “weak link” for the team.
"Mumbai Indians is still a very good team on paper but being managed very poorly. Especially, if Hardik Pandya as a leader lacks form, he will become a weak link for his own team. What I am most worried about is that he is affecting his own hitting abilities,” Pathan said after MI lost to RR.
“This is a matter of concern — even for the Indian team. It seems as if he is looking for easy ways to come back to form and wants to keep himself in a comfortable position. And that is how he will not be able to win the respect of his team and teammates.”
The former all-rounder also stated that Pandya is escaping the tough route as he only comes to bat above when the team is in a good position. The MI skipper has also been bashed for bowling the first over ahead of Jasprit Bumrah.
"When the batters do well, he comes to bat at No. 3. And here, he sent Nehal Wadhera and Mohammad Nabi ahead of himself. He doesn't come at a position where he needs to do the tough job,” Pathan added.
“If as a leader, you have to earn your teammates' respect, he's got to do the tough tasks; don't look for easy ways. He bowls the first over thinking that he'll escape, but even there, he gets struck for 2 fours, helps Buttler get in form, and then when Bumrah bowls, Buttler gets the confidence to play him out.”
