IPL 2024 / Those 2 wrong decisions of Hardik Pandya, due to which victory slipped from Mumbai's hands

IPL 2024: This is about the 2022 season when two new teams were launched in IPL. One of these, Gujarat Titans, had made star all-rounder Hardik Pandya its captain. Hardik was then released by Mumbai Indians and Gujarat handed him the captaincy. During that season, Hardik had said in an interview that just like MS Dhoni created the atmosphere in Chennai Super Kings, he wants to do the same for the Gujarat team. Then in 2023, Hardik has no objection to him playing Dhoni's role (finisher in the lower order) in the playing eleven. As the captain of Mumbai Indians, Hardik probably tried the same but he proved unsuccessful in it.

In their first match of IPL 2024, Mumbai Indians had to face defeat by 6 runs at the hands of Gujarat Titans. This match played in Ahmedabad was almost within the control of Mumbai but even after this, the 5-time champion team somehow lost this match. This was Hardik's first match after becoming the new captain of Mumbai Indians and Hardik, who was already facing the anger of the fans due to getting the captaincy, is facing even more criticism due to his decisions.

Made a big blunder in the beginning

Now the question is, what mistakes did Hardik make, due to which he had to suffer defeat? Hardik, who made Gujarat Titans the champion in the very first season, made one big mistake in both the innings as the captain of Mumbai. Starting with bowling, where it all started. Mumbai had the bowling first and here in this team there were veteran fast bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, who were in excellent form. Despite this, Hardik himself started the bowling in the innings. Hardik, who came to bowl the first over, hit a four on the very first ball. After this the second four also came and a total of 10 runs came from the over.

It would not be right to call it a mistake because Hardik bowled the first or second over for Gujarat many times in the last season and proved to be effective. Anyway, former captain Rohit Sharma himself was not getting Bumrah to bowl the first or second over in the last few seasons. In such a situation, Hardik also did not do anything different. Actually, Hardik made the mistake of coming again in the third over, because he was not getting swing in the first over. Despite this, he came again and again gave away 10 runs including 2 fours. These runs ultimately cost Mumbai dearly. Bumrah came and took the wicket in the fourth over.

Was Hardik scared or wanted to be Dhoni?

Hardik's second mistake was seen during batting. Mumbai was moving towards victory when Dewald Brevis was out on the fifth ball of the 16th over. At that time Mumbai needed 40 runs in 25 balls and 6 wickets were left. Everyone was expecting that Hardik Pandya would come to bat because he used to bat even higher for Gujarat. He did not come and they sent Tim David. Rashid Khan, who came in the very next over, troubled David and Tilak Verma and cost only 3 runs.

This was Rashid's last over. This surprised everyone. Former Indian pacer Irfan Pathan even alleged that Hardik was afraid of facing Rashid and hence he sent David. This also raises the question whether Hardik was thinking of coming here at the very end and finishing the match like Dhoni? He tried this in the 20th over but failed. If Hardik, who scored 11 runs in 4 balls, had himself come to bat in the 16th over, perhaps his captaincy career for Mumbai Indians would have started with a win.