Hardik Pandya must find a way for MI to resume their winning ways. In order for Mumbai to resume their winning ways, it is imperative that MI captain Hardik Pandya find his form and consistency both with the bat and the ball, as highlighted by former Australia captain Aaron Finch.
Recognizing Pandya’s ability as an all-around player, Finch stresses how critical it is for Hardik to make an impact in both areas of the game. Finch also highlighted the MI bowling unit’s reliance on Jasprit Bumrah and the inconsistency and lack of quality in the lineup after him.
When MI plays PBKS in Mullanpur on Thursday, they will be looking to turn around their struggling campaign after losing four of their first six IPL 2024 games.
“I believe the captain must first and foremost regain consistency and form with the bat and ball. Ideally, he should have some form with both bat and ball because we’ve seen him bowl in some games but not in others. It will definitely help, in my opinion. Furthermore, they haven’t bowled with the same depth of quality or consistency outside of Jasprit Bumrah,” Finch stated in an exclusive Star Sports Cricket Live interview.
Hardik Pandya has struggled to score runs with the bat in the IPL 2024 season, managing just 131 runs with a strike rate of 145.6 in six innings that include two complete failures and two more subpar outings.
His status as MI’s captain and a vital player makes this slump especially worrisome. In six games, he has bowled at an economy rate of 12 per over and taken just three wickets, which is below his usual norms.
For MI and Hardik’s career, his leadership and performance are essential, especially as his selection in the T20 World Cup team may depend on how well he does in the Indian Premier League.
Hardik Pandya has demonstrated resiliency in the past, even in the face of adversity, and his capacity to overcome failures will be crucial to MI’s success for the balance of the IPL 2024 season.
All eyes will be on Hardik Pandya as MI gets ready for their upcoming match; supporters and teammates alike are looking for a return to form that might spark MI’s campaign and reinstate Pandya as one of the best all-round players in the game right now.
