MI's playoffs hopes bleak: Irfan Pathan points fingers at Hardik Pandya's captaincy
MI’s playoffs hopes bleak: Irfan Pathan points fingers at Hardik Pandya’s captaincy
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan pointed fingers at Hardik Pandya’s captaincy for MI’s dismal performance in IPL 2024 season. The 5-time champions are on the brink of being eliminated from the play-offs race after their 4-wicket defeat to LSG in Lucknow on Tuesday, April 30. It was another disappointing performance from the powerhouses as they managed just 144 on the board and struggled to contain Marcus Stoinis to slip to their 7th loss in 10 matches this season.Â
Questions have been asked about Hardik Pandya’s captaincy and MI’s inconsistent showing with both bat and ball throughout the season. Barring Rohit Sharma (315) and Tilak Varma (341), none of the other MI batters have chipped in with match-winning contributions while Jasprit Bumrah (!4 wickets) has been their lone warrior with the ball. LSG vs MI: Highlights | Scorecard
However, Irfan Pathan said the leadership group’s inability to manage the team well seems to have cost them a place in the playoffs. The World Cup winner also highlighted how MI, under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, qualified for the play-offs last year despite not having Jasprit Bumrah fit for their campaign.Â
“The team Mumbai Indians that qualified last year didn’t have Jasprit Bumrah but this season they had his services. Still, they are in this situation. Purely because the team wasn’t managed well on the ground. Too many mistakes by their captain Hardik Pandya. It’s the truth,: Irfan Pathan said.Â
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MI are in the 9th spot in the 10-team points table with just 3 wins from 7 matches. They have 6 points, as many as RCB, who are rooted to the bottom of the table. Even if Hardik Pandya’s men go on and win all their remaining matches, they might miss out on a spot in the playoffs.Â
No team has qualified with only 14 points in a an IPL season with more than 8 teams in history. Both MI and RCB can only reach a maximum of 14 points.Â
On Tuesday in Lucknow, MI’s batting failed big time as T20 World Cup-bound stars, Hardik, Rohit and Suryakumar Yadav, did not trouble the scorers much. A solid 62 from Marcus Stoinis was enough for LSG to chase down 145 with 4 deliveries to spare.Â
Captain Hardik Pandya played down the impact of the defeat, saying MI will continue giving their best and finish their season on a high.
“I have always believed that whenever you take to the field, sometimes you will be down, sometimes you will be up, and you have to fight. It looks difficult but there are a lot of things you can learn from this game,” Hardik Pandya said.Â
MI will look to bounce back when they next take on the Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium on May 3.Â
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