Former India Star Criticizes Hardik Pandya’s Captaincy as MI Miss Out on Playoffs

In a shocking turn of events, Mumbai Indians suffered a major setback in their IPL 2024 campaign as they faced a crushing defeat at the hands of Rajasthan Royals. Despite posting a competitive total of 179/9, thanks to Hardik Pandya’s efforts, MI faltered in their bowling performance as Yashasvi Jaiswal single-handedly led RR to victory with an unbeaten century.

Following the match, former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary criticized Hardik Pandya’s captaincy, particularly his decision not to utilize star pacer Jasprit Bumrah effectively. Tiwary pointed out that not using Bumrah in the opening over allowed RR’s batsmen to settle in and take control of the game early on.

Expressing his concerns, Tiwary stated, “If this kind of captaincy continues, MI are not making the playoffs. Previously, players were with Rohit Sharma. Now it feels like that MI players have not bought into Hardik Pandya as the captain of the side.”

On the other hand, RR captain Sanju Samson praised his team’s performance, especially Jaiswal’s match-winning century. Samson highlighted the team’s resilience and ability to bounce back in the game, ultimately securing their seventh win of the season.

With this defeat, MI’s playoff hopes have been cast into doubt, raising questions about their leadership and strategy moving forward in the tournament. As the competition heats up, teams will need to reassess their tactics and make crucial decisions to stay in contention for the coveted IPL title.