‘At No. 7 he basically becomes a tailender’ – Mohammed Shami on Hardik Pandya’s batting position at Mumbai Indians

Hardik Pandya (Source -IPL)

Hardik Pandya’s start to the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) as Mumbai Indians’ (MI) captain has been disappointing as his side suffered a six-run loss against Gujarat Titans on March 24. He has faced severe criticism for the decision to bat at No. 7, particularly after managing only 11 runs off four deliveries. Notably, the five-time champions failed to cross the line despite being in a winning position at one stage.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Shami was also surprised by Hardik’s decision to bat down the order. The ace Indian speedster noted that “Hardik at No. 7 basically becomes a tailender,” and if they would’ve won the game if he batted earlier.

“There is a lot of talks about left-right combination. I don’t understand such things. Last match also we talked about how much Pat Cummins is matured. You need to stay a step ahead. You should think, ‘I am the captain, I should take this responsibility.’ As far as Hardik is concerned, you have batted at No.3 and No.4 at Gujarat Titans, what is the problem in batting at No. 4 or 5 here in MI? Hardik at No. 7 basically becomes a tailender,” Shami said on Cricbuzz. “When you come to bat at No. 7, you are coming in with a lot of pressure. I think if Hardik would have come earlier, the match would not have gone till last over.”

Also read: ‘I think he looked a little bit anxious’ – Tom Moody dissects Hardik Pandya’s debut outing as Mumbai Indians captain

“Is he following Dhoni template?” the anchor asked Shami, to which he replied that nobody can compare anyone as every captain has a different frame of mind.

“Dhoni is Dhoni. You cannot compare anyone. Everyone has a different mindset, whether it is Dhoni or Kohli. You should stay in the game depending on your skill. You batted at No. 3 and 4 in the last two seasons. You are used to that position. You can at the most bat at No. 5, but not at No. 7,” Shami responded.

I feel it wasn’t Hardik’s call: Manoj Tiwary

Former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary, who was also part of the discussion panel, believes that the decision for Hardik Pandya to bat at No. 7 wasn’t solely made by the all-rounder himself. He even stated that MI head coach Mark Boucher might also discuss with Sachin Tendulkar and others before making such decisions.

Also read: IPL 2024: Anil Kumble takes hilarious dig at Hardik Pandya for not revealing XI at toss

“I feel it wasn’t his call. In Gujarat, I feel, only two people were running the game, Hardik and [Head Coach, Ashish] Nehra. In Mumbai dugout there are some big names present. So probably they might have influenced him to drop down the order because they have invested a lot on young players like Tilak Verma and Brevis. Mark Boucher will obviously listen to Sachin…he will then discuss with other members of the team management and then decide,” the 38-year-old said.