Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan didn’t mince words when criticizing Hardik Pandya’s batting performance during the Sunrisers Hyderabad versus Mumbai Indians clash on March 27, Wednesday. The Mumbai Indians, a five-time champion, fell short in their chase of a monumental target of 278 runs, marking their second loss of the season.
Hardik Pandya‘s struggle to accelerate his innings proved detrimental to Mumbai’s pursuit of victory, with his final tally reaching a mere 24 runs off 20 balls. Pathan pinpointed this lacklustre performance, particularly highlighting Hardik’s strike rate of 120, which was notably lower than that of his teammates.
Expressing his disappointment on social media, Pathan emphasized the incongruity of a team aiming for a high collective strike rate while its captain lags behind. He tweeted, “If the whole team is playing with the strike of 200, Captain can’t bat with the batting strike rate of 120,” underscoring the significance of maintaining consistency throughout the lineup.
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If the whole team is playing with the strike of 200, Captain can’t bat with the batting strike rate of 120.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) March 27, 2024
The match itself was a spectacle of batting prowess, with Sunrisers Hyderabad setting a new IPL record by posting the highest score in the tournament’s history. Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma set the tone early on, laying the foundation for an imposing total. Subsequent contributions from Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen, who secured his second consecutive half-century, propelled Hyderabad to an imposing total.
In response, Mumbai Indians embarked on a promising chase, spearheaded by Tilak Verma’s explosive 64 off 34 deliveries. However, despite their strong start, Mumbai faltered in the latter stages of the innings, facing formidable bowling from Sunrisers Hyderabad. Ultimately, Hyderabad’s strategic bowling tactics in the closing stages secured their first victory of the season.
Pathan’s critique of Hardik Pandya’s batting performance underscores the importance of consistency and adaptability in high-stakes cricket matches. As Mumbai Indians regroup following their defeat, they will likely reflect on the need for every player, including the captain, to contribute effectively and maintain the momentum required for success in the IPL.
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