Mumbai Indians’ captain Hardik Pandya had a fitness check time again after the tossup with CSK, losing 26 runs in the final over of the IPL season 2024 that took place at the Wankhede Stadium – Pandya’s home ground, where he was regarded as the emperor of the moment. As Dhoni added another 20 to the score from MS’s last over, with them resulting in three sixes, Pandya’s bowling came under a lot of criticism.
India’s former cricketer Irfan Pathan has stated that he is disappointed with Hardik Pandya’s choice to bowl the last over even when he had the option of Akash Madhwal, who clearly has the capabilities of bowling death overs and was a success in his last over the other night. In the midst of Pandya’s bowling versus Dhoni, Pathan additionally complained on doubts that Pandya might have been overpowered in the essential parts of the game.
But, yet another former cricketer and an Australian himself, Adam Gilchrist chose to remain non-critical regarding Pandya’s decision to bowl the final over. He saw it as a way to show confidence rather than doubt. Even though Gilchrist was of the opinion that Hardik Pandya’s bowling was less dominant, he suggested that it might be a signal that the younger man was not entirely fit.
Gilchrist remarked, “He does not look anywhere near 100 percent fit with the ball in hand and if there is any doubt about the physicality. His bowling was scattered.”
Similarly, former Australia fast bowler Brett Lee refrained from condemning Pandya’s decision to bowl the final over but remarked that it turned out to be a wrong decision in hindsight. Lee emphasized the importance of executing key deliveries, suggesting that Pandya’s decision might have been influenced by a desire to protect his fellow bowler.
Lee stated, “If he came in and bowled two bit of yorkers, contained him for eight runs, made people wicket, that’s a great cap scene. So I could see that ownership of him trying to look after his bowler at the other end, mud wall, saying, well, I don’t want to put him under any more pressure.”
Pandya’s performance has sparked discussions about his fitness and effectiveness in crucial match situations, raising questions about his role in the team’s bowling lineup.
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