Sunil Gavaskar Blasts Hardik Pandya Post MI's Heartening Loss Against CSK

In the ongoing IPL 2024 season, Mumbai Indians are grappling with a string of setbacks despite the fresh leadership of all-rounder Hardik Pandya. With just two victories in six outings, the five-time title holders find themselves struggling to reclaim their former glory. Their latest defeat against perennial rivals Chennai Super Kings, particularly stings as it occurred at their fortress, the Wankhede Stadium. The clash between the two powerhouses unfolded in the 29th fixture of the tournament, with Chennai Super Kings asserting their dominance from the outset. Mumbai Indians, captained by Hardik Pandya, found themselves constantly on the back foot, ultimately succumbing to a 20-run loss. While Hardik's leadership has been under scrutiny, his individual performances have also come under fire.

Despite an overall lackluster display against CSK, Hardik Pandya was entrusted with the crucial final over. However, his bowling proved ineffective against the onslaught of veteran MS Dhoni, who mercilessly dispatched three consecutive sixes, propelling Chennai to a formidable total of 206 runs in the first innings.

The pressure is mounting on Hardik Pandya to deliver both as a captain and as a key player for Mumbai Indians. As the tournament progresses, the franchise faces a daunting task of turning their fortunes around and reclaiming their status as one of the most formidable teams in the IPL. Sunil Gavaskar, renowned for his astute analysis, didn't mince words as he expressed profound disappointment with Pandya's on-field decisions and performance. The cricket legend, aged 74, didn't hold back, labeling Pandya's captaincy as "ordinary" and his bowling as "amongst the poorest" he's witnessed in recent memory.

"Probably the worst kind of bowling that I've seen for a long, long time. It almost looks like I've had this embrace with my hero. I've got the kind of deliveries that he's gonna hit for sixes. One six is fine. The next one is a length ball when you know this batter is hunting for a length ball that he wants to hit. Third ball is again a full toss on the legs when you know he [Dhoni] is looking for a six," mentioned Sunil Gavaskar during a recent conversation. 

Additionally, Gavaskar took aim at Pandya's leadership choices during the match against Chennai Super Kings. Expressing his viewpoint, the cricketing legend suggested that the away team ought to have contained their opponents to a score hovering around 190 runs. However, the situation took an unexpected turn following Dhoni's remarkable performance in the final over.

"Oh, absolutely ordinary bowling, ordinary captaincy. They should have been restricted despite the fact that Ruturaj Gaikwad had batted so well along with Shivam Dube. I do believe that they should have been restricted to 185-190,” Gavaskar added.