Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth criticised Hardik Pandya after Mumbai Indians suffered a 103-run loss against arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on Thursday. MI was bowled out for 104 after CSK posted 207 runs on the board.
Srikkanth questioned Pandya for giving the ball to greenhorn pacer Krish Bhagat and not bowling himself in the death overs against CSK. Bhagat conceded 31 runs in two overs he bowled, including 16 runs in the final over of the innings.
Meanwhile, Pandya was himself expensive as he returned with figures of 0-38 in the two overs he bowled in the Powerplay
Kris Srikkanth said on his YouTube Channel, “A player who has bowled the death overs in the T20 World Cup is scared of bowling the same here. MI’s problem starts here only. This is why you should bat first after winning the toss. You at least have a chance of single-handed heroics, like Tilak Varma in the last match or Sanju Samson today. Hardik Pandya got that also wrong.”
The 1983 World Cup winning player also questioned Pandya’s decision to bowl first against CSK after winning the toss.
“It was dubba captaincy by Hardik Pandya. He should have batted first after winning the toss. Except for the KKR match, they’ve always lost, always chasing. Then, you are a main bowler who has bowled the death overs in T20 World Cups. Yet, you are not coming to bowl and letting that boy Krish Bhagat bowl the last two overs. Hardik has become a run-feeder. He’s also struggling to lay bat on ball with the bat,” said Srikkanth (via the aforementioned source).
He added, “How are you giving a youngster playing only his second match the ball in the death overs? It was 4 overs, 69 runs between Hardik and Bhagat. That was the biggest difference. Krish Bhagat should be pushed for two overs in the middle of the innings. MI were finished there itself. They have no idea what to do with their 11. Hardik Pandya has lost confidence as a batter, bowler, and captain.”
Mumbai Indians will next take on Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on Wednesday.
