Hardik Pandya’s captaincy debut for the Mumbai Indians (MI) within the 2024 IPL season has come underneath hearth following their slender six-run defeat to the Gujarat Titans. A key speaking level has been Pandya’s choice to bat at No. 7, a transfer that shocked many, together with his former teammate, Mohammed Shami.
Shami, talking on Cricbuzz, expressed his disapproval of the batting order, stating, “Hardik at No. 7 basically becomes a tailender.” He believes that Pandya’s late arrival on the crease added pointless strain and probably price MI the match. “When you come to bat at No. 7, you are coming in with a lot of pressure. I think if Hardik would have come earlier, the match would not have gone till the last over.”
Dhoni vs. Pandya: Completely different Strokes for Completely different Of us?
Shami acknowledged comparisons between Pandya’s batting method and that of former Indian captain MS Dhoni, recognized for his late-innings heroics. Nonetheless, he argued in opposition to such comparisons, stating, “Dhoni is Dhoni. You cannot compare anyone. Everyone has a different mindset, whether it is Dhoni or Kohli.” He believes that Pandya’s strengths lie in batting greater up the order, a place he efficiently crammed for the Gujarat Titans.
Shami additional questioned whether or not the choice to bat Pandya at No. 7 was solely made by the captain himself. He identified Pandya’s success at No. 3 and 4 for the Gujarat Titans and steered a potential affect from the MI teaching employees, significantly head coach Mark Boucher.
“In Gujarat, I feel, only two people were running the game, Hardik and [Head Coach, Ashish] Nehra,” Shami stated. “In Mumbai dugout there are some big names present. So probably they might have influenced him to drop down the order because they have invested a lot on young players like Tilak Varma and Brevis.”
Tiwary Helps Shami’s Suspicions
Former Indian cricketer Manoj Tiwary, additionally a part of the Cricbuzz dialogue, echoed Shami’s sentiment. He believes that the batting order choice probably concerned extra than simply Pandya. “I feel it wasn’t his call,” Tiwary acknowledged. He steered that Boucher may seek the advice of with legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, a mentor for the Mumbai Indians, earlier than making such essential choices.
“Mark Boucher will obviously listen to Sachin…he will then discuss with other members of the team management and then decide,” Tiwary stated.
Uncertainty Surrounds MI’s Batting Technique
Shami and Tiwary’s feedback elevate questions in regards to the dynamic inside the Mumbai Indians’ management. Whether or not Pandya has full autonomy over batting order choices or if there is a collaborative method involving the teaching employees and probably Sachin Tendulkar stays unclear.
With the IPL season nonetheless younger, all eyes shall be on how the Mumbai Indians deal with their batting technique and whether or not Pandya will take a extra aggressive method with the bat in upcoming matches.
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