'He didn't make the right changes...': Ex-India star slams Hardik Pandya's captaincy in PBKS clash

The Mumbai Indians (MI) recorded a comprehensive seven-wicket defeat against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Monday at the Sawai Mansingh stadium in Jaipur. The loss meant that the Mumbai-based franchise finished their league stage on the fourth position with 16 points while PBKS moved to the top of the standings witrh 19 points and ensured a finish in the top two.

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Following the match, former India cricketer Virender Sehwag heavily criticized MI skipper Hardik Pandya for the decisions he took with his bowlers during the game. The batting great pointed out that Pandya continued to hand the bowling to Deepak Chahar despite the pacer struggling with his hamstring.

Deepak Chahar bowled with his hamstring strapped during the match

During the match, Chahar was seen bowling with his hamstring strapped and ended up giving many runs in the two overs that he bowled following the break.

"I said it during commentary. Even after Deepak Chahar's hamstring was strapped during the match, Hardik made him bowl two overs. Chahar's first over was a maiden but he conceded 28 runs in the next two overs. That shifted the match in Punjab Kings' favour. If Chahar was not given his second over and Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya or Ashwani Kumar bowled it instead, the 17 runs could have been saved and PBKS would have felt the pressure. Bumrah conceded a few runs and it is natural that even Hardik will concede a few. But, as a captain, he disappointed me with his bowling changes. He did not make the right changes on time and that is why, MI were left on the back foot," Sehwag said on Star Sports.

Pandya also proved to be quite expensive with the ball. He only bowled two overs, but ended up giving away 26 runs. Eventually, the Punjab-based franchise easily chased down the target of 185 thanks to brilliant knocks from Priyansh Arya (62) and Josh Inglis (73) and handed MI their sixth loss of the campaign.

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MI will now be facing-off against the third placed team on the IPL standings in the eliminator match that will take place on June 30. A loss in that match would see either side get knocked out of the tournament.