May 4th 2024.
Recently, former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan did not hold back in his criticism of Mumbai Indians' captain Hardik Pandya after their unfortunate defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders by 24 runs on Friday night. Pathan pointed out several key moments where he believed Mumbai Indians faltered, with a particular focus on Pandya's decision-making on the field.
One instance that raised eyebrows was Pandya's use of Naman Dhir for three crucial overs when KKR was struggling at 57/5. Pathan suggested that this decision cost MI dearly by allowing KKR to post a daunting total of 170, instead of being limited to 150. "Mumbai Indians' story is finished in the IPL 2024. They were a very good team on paper but they have not been managed well. Questions on Hardik Pandya's captaincy are valid," Pathan said on Instagram.
But Pathan's criticism didn't stop there. He went on to delve into the dynamics within the MI camp, hinting at possible rifts or factions within the squad. He stressed the importance of player acceptance of the captain's authority, implying that this may be lacking in the current MI setup. "Cricket is a game where captaincy and management is crucial and MI at the moment are not playing as a team and that's the biggest talking point of the season for MI. It is important for the players to accept their captain and I don't think it has happened for MI this season," Pathan further added.
Unfortunately, Mumbai Indians find themselves at the bottom of the league table with just six points from eleven games. This disappointing performance has raised questions about the team's cohesion and unity, with Pathan suggesting that it may be a significant factor in their struggles this season. It remains to be seen how the team will respond to these criticisms and if they can turn their fortunes around in the remaining games.
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