IPL 2024: Irfan Pathan highlights Hardik Pandya’s captaincy blunder in GT vs MI thriller

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Former Indian pacer Irfan Pathan has criticized newly appointed Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Hardik Pandya for his captaincy blunders within the staff’s six-run defeat towards Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad on Sunday, March 24.

Hardik Pandya’s batting place questioned

Pathan questioned Hardik’s resolution to return in to bat at No.7 within the penultimate over of MI’s run-chase. He felt that Hardik ought to have confronted ace spinner Rashid Khan earlier within the innings. Hardik scored a quick-fire 11 off 4 balls however was unable to take his staff over the road.

Pathan speculated that Hardik might not have needed to face Rashid after a protracted break from cricket. He believed that it was a mistake to ship Tim David forward of Hardik to face the Afghanistan spinner.

“After they had been chasing, they despatched Tim David greater up the order. He despatched Tim David when Rashid Khan had an over left. I felt Hardik Pandya possibly didn’t wish to face Rashid Khan after having not performed cricket for a very long time. This might be the case. I gained’t agree with the truth that there was an skilled Indian batter sitting within the dressing room and despatched an abroad participant beneath strain towards Rashid. They missed a trick there,” mentioned Pathan in a video on his Instagram deal with.

Additionally READ: Hardik Pandya faces backlash from followers after Mumbai Indians’ defeat towards Gujarat Titans in IPL 2024

Bowling choices criticized

Pathan additionally criticized Hardik’s choices concerning the bowling technique. He questioned the skipper’s option to bowl two overs himself within the powerplay and introduce Jasprit Bumrah solely within the fourth over. Notably, Hardik bowled the primary over of the match and conceded 11 runs. Nonetheless, he returned to bowl the third over and gave away back-to-back boundaries on the primary two deliveries, permitting GT to get off to begin. Pathan felt that it was a mistake for Hardik to bowl two overs within the powerplay and delay Bumrah’s entry into the assault.

“Hardik Pandya made large errors within the match. Within the powerplay, he bowled two overs himself, that was an enormous mistake. He introduced Jasprit Bumrah into the assault a bit late,” added Pathan.