Irfan Pathan labels Hardik Pandya as weak link of MI, says ‘he is looking for easy ways to come back to form’

Mumbai Indians (MI) lost their fifth game in this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) as Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals (RR) beat them by nine wickets at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on April 22. Meanwhile, there is concern over Hardik Panyda’s performance both as a player and captain. He has been on the receiving end of the crticism for failing to perform when it mattered the most.

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan expressed his concerns about MI skipper Pandya by saying that he is trying to do what’s easy and shying away from doing what’s difficult to achieve. Pathan also labelled him as the ‘weak link of the team’. Irfan also said that Hardik will find it hard to earn the respect of his teammates with this performance.

"Mumbai Indians is still a very good team on paper but being managed very poorly. Especially, if Hardik Pandya as a leader lacks form, he will become a weak link for his own team. What I am most worried about is that he is affecting his own hitting abilities. This is a matter of concern – even for the Indian team. It seems as if he is looking for easy ways to come back to form and wants to keep himself in a comfortable position. And that is how he will not be able to win the respect of his team and teammates," Pathan said in a video on Instagram.  

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Watch the Video Here:

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Pandya’s form with bat and ball has been concerning as he could score only 10 runs in 10 balls and conceded 21 runs in two overs that he bowled against RR without taking a wicket. The 30-year-old all-rounder has managed to score 151 runs in eight matches at an average of 21.57 and a strike rate of 142.45 with a best of 39 in the IPL 2024 so far.

MI stayed unmoved in the points table as they remained in the seventh spot after losing a match against RR. But, the loss means that they will need to win at least four matches of their remaining six fixtures to get a chance of qualification for the playoffs.

Notably, MI will next face Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals (DC) on April 27 at Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi.

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