Hardik Pandya (L) and Shubman Gill© AFP
Former Indian cricket team all-rounder Irfan Pathan was extremely critical of Hardik Pandya after Mumbai Indians’ loss to Gujarat Titans in their opening match of IPL 2024. It was the first match as MI captain for Hardik and Pathan believes he has made some big plays. mistakes that ultimately cost his team the match. Hardik opened the bowling for his side and ended up conceding 20 runs in the first over. Pathan felt that he should have gone with an experienced signing like Jasprit Bumrah instead.
“Hardik Pandya made big mistakes in the match. In the powerplay he bowled 2 overs himself, which was a big mistake. He brought Jasprit Bumrah into the attack a bit late,” Irfan Pathan said on Instagram.
“And secondly, when they were hunting, they sent Tim David up. He sent Tim David when Rashid Khan had a surplus.”
“I felt that Hardik Pandya might not want to play against Rashid Khan after not playing cricket for a long time. This could be the case. I don’t agree that there was an experienced Indian batsman in the dressing room. ” and sent a foreign player under pressure against Rashid. They missed a beat there,” Irfan added.
An inexplicable batting strategy by Mumbai Indians at the death saw Shubman Gill make a promising debut as captain of the Gujarat Titans with a thrilling six-run win in their opening match of the IPL on Sunday.
Jasprit Bumrah (3/14) was at his best in his first IPL match in two years, using his express yorkers at will to help Mumbai Indians restrict Gujarat Titans to 168/6.
But Bumrah’s effort was not enough as batters like Tilak Varma and skipper Hardik Pandya failed to complement his brilliance.
MI finished on 162/9 as things went downhill, needing only 43 runs from the last five overs with seven wickets in hand.
So MI failed to break the jinx of the opening match. The last time they won their IPL opener was against Chennai Super Kings, way back in 2012.
(With PTI inputs)
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