Chennai: Former India selector Kris Srikkanth has strongly criticised Hardik Pandya, calling him a “plastic captain” and questioning his intent with the bat during Mumbai Indians’ defeat to Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday.
Hardik, who walked in at No. 6 after the dismissal of Tilak Varma, struggled to accelerate despite having a well-set partner at the other end. He managed just 18 runs off 23 balls, an innings that drew sharp criticism as Mumbai Indians posted 159 for 7.
Middle-overs slowdown proves costly
Mumbai Indians were placed at 109 for 4 in 12.5 overs but failed to capitalise on the platform. The scoring rate dipped significantly during the middle overs, which ultimately cost them momentum.
Srikkanth pointed out that Hardik’s inability to rotate strike and find boundaries led to a drastic fall in run rate between overs 12 and 16. The innings included 10 dot balls, reflecting a lack of intent during a crucial phase.
He questioned the approach taken by the MI skipper, saying it was difficult to understand the plan as the team’s scoring gradually slowed down.
CSK restricts MI to modest total
Chennai Super Kings executed their bowling plans effectively, restricting Mumbai Indians to a below-par total. Hardik was dismissed in the final over, having hit only two boundaries in his innings.
CSK then chased down the target comfortably, securing an 8-wicket victory and further strengthening their position in the tournament.
Tactical flaws highlighted
Srikkanth also highlighted tactical issues, stating that there appeared to be no clear game awareness or calculation in MI’s batting approach during the middle overs.
He noted that while the team started with a healthy run rate of around 9 runs per over, it steadily declined, with several overs yielding minimal runs. According to him, this phase proved decisive in the outcome of the match.
Bowlers expose Hardik’s weakness
Another key observation made by Srikkanth was the strategy employed by CSK bowlers, particularly Jamie Overton, who targeted Hardik with body-line deliveries.
He said teams have now identified a pattern to restrict Hardik, avoiding deliveries in his hitting arc and instead bowling tighter lines that limit scoring opportunities.
This approach, he suggested, could be replicated by other teams in upcoming matches.
Concerns over form continue
Hardik Pandya’s strike rate of 136.45 this season has raised concerns, especially given Mumbai Indians’ struggles to maintain momentum in the middle order.
With expectations high from the captain, questions are now being raised about both his batting form and leadership decisions during pressure situations.
Next challenge for Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians will look to bounce back in their next fixture against Lucknow Super Giants at the Wankhede Stadium on May 4.
The team will aim to address its middle-order concerns and improve its overall batting performance as the tournament progresses.
Conclusion
The criticism from a former selector like Srikkanth highlights growing scrutiny on Hardik Pandya’s performance as both captain and batsman. As the IPL season intensifies, Mumbai Indians will need stronger contributions from their skipper to stay competitive.