Former India opener and 1983 World Cup winner Krisnamachari Srikkanth took to his YouTube channel and said that Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya was scared of putting in the hard yards. Srikkanth criticised Pandya's bowling changes in MI's clash against Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.
After conceding 38 runs in his two overs in the powerplay, Pandya did not bring himself on to bowl for the rest of the innings. Instead, he entrusted the responsibility of bowling two overs in the death overs to rookie pacer Krish Bhagat. Bhagat bowled the 16th and the 20th over of the innings, conceding 31 runs in his two overs. The 16-run last over helped CSK put up a total of 207/6 and register a 103-run win.
Speaking on his YouTube channel after the match, Srikkanth criticised Hardik Pandya's decision to bowl first after winning the toss as well.
"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," he said.
"It was 'dubba' captaincy" - Kris Srikkanth
Srikkanth further laid into Pandya by calling his decision-making and his captaincy 'dubba' - a term used to describe bad or inferior things.
Srikkanth criticised the decision to bowl first, pointing to MI's lack of success while chasing this season. He also termed Pandya a 'run-feeder'.
"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," he continued.
Also Read: Mumbai Indians qualification scenario after loss to CSK in IPL 2026
Hardik Pandya has not been in form with bat, or ball in IPL 2026. In 6 matches, he has made just 97 runs while picking 3 wickets at an economy rate of 12.67.
"He has lost confidence with bat, ball, and as a skipper" - Srikkanth
The Mumbai Indians are now eighth on the points table with just 2 wins in 7 matches. Their playoff qualification chances have taken a severe hit amid this dismal run and now they find themselves faced with an uphill battle.
Srikkanth concluded his admonishment by saying that MI's lean run has affected Pandya's confidence in his team and his abilities.
"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."
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