The problems that Hardik Pandya is experiencing as the captain of the Mumbai Indians do not appear to be going away. After Hardik began to put together a couple of victories to steady the ship, the Mumbai squad, which Hardik led, crashed and burned at home against the Chennai Super Kings, who defeated them by 20 runs at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. The Chennai Super Kings took out the Mumbai team.
The fact that Mahendra Singh Dhoni, a great player for Chennai Super Kings, hit Hardik for three consecutive sixes in the final over of the Chennai innings was particularly detrimental to Hardik’s sense of self-worth. As Hardik’s bowling was being tested, the Wankhede faithful, who had not yet come around to the idea of Hardik becoming the captain of the Mumbai Indians, applauded with great enthusiasm.
Following that attempt, things went from bad to worse for Hardik, as veteran cricketers, including legends such as Sunil Gavaskar, criticized his overall performance as a captain and bowler.
Gavaskar, in particular, was critical of Hardik for being struck for three consecutive sixes in a row.
“One on the six is fine. When you know that this hitter is looking for a length ball to hit, the next one is another one that is a length ball on the pitch. The third ball is a full toss on the leg side, and he is looking for it. He hits it for a six, which is a great accomplishment. Completely unremarkable bowling and captaincy that is unremarkable. During his analysis during the mid-innings break, Gavaskar stated, “I believe that the CSK team should have been restricted for two hundred and fifty or two hundred and fifty.”
Another participant, Kevin Pietersen, who had previously been a prominent player for England, questioned Hardik’s absence of a second thought when things were not going well.
“The things that I witnessed this evening were not satisfactory. I witnessed a captain who had a plan A from a team meeting five hours ago, and the captain did not want to switch to Plan B when he should have. It seems inconceivable that you have not bowled a spinner when your seamers go for twenty runs.
Inain Lara has heard in the comment, “Would it be possible for us to bowl spinners?” Their spinners are also capable of bowling. It would help if you altered the tempo of the game. Everything that is happening outside of the game is having a significant impact on Hardik. During the toss, he smiles far more than he should be.
He is trying to give the impression that he is extremely content. It’s not a happy man! I’ve been there before. Not only have I been in the firing line, but I’ve also been there in the flesh! I am positive that it has an impact on you. The boos that we have been hearing now, as well as how thrilled they are to see Dhoni smacking Hardik Pandya all over the park, hurt you.
What is going on with Hardik Pandya? In addition to being an Indian player, he is emotional. The way he is being handled is something other than what he desires. As a result of this happening, it is having an impact on him and his cricket. “Something is going to have to take place,” Kevin Pietersen stated.
During this time, Irfan Pathan posted a tweet that stated, “Hardik Pandya bowling the last over showed the lack of faith on Akash Madhwal’s bowling and his own lack of skill as a death over bowler.”
Hardik Pandya is being lauded as one of the greatest “all-rounders” India has ever produced, and the batting coach of the Mumbai Indians, Kieron Pollard, believes that the fans would soon “sing praises for him.”
“I am unsure whether or not it will affect his morale. “He is a confident guy, and he has been great around the group,” Pollard remarked after Mumbai’s loss to Chennai at the Wankhede Stadium by a score of 20 runs.
MS Dhoni hit three sixes and scored twenty runs off only four balls during Hardik Pandya’s final over. Dhoni’s performance was quite impressive. As Mumbai suffered their fourth defeat in a competition of six matches, the runs they scored in the final few balls proved critical.
He stated, “In cricket, you have good days and bad days, and I am seeing an individual who is working bloody hard to improve his skills and plying his trade.” He was referring to a player who was currently playing the game.
Pollard also criticized fans and pundits for blaming Pandya for the inconsistency that the Mumbai Indians have shown throughout the tournament.
