The allrounder, who is currently unable to bowl due to a back injury, has scored just 35 runs at a strike rate of 106.06 in four matches for Mumbai Indians
Former India allrounder Irfan Pathan has criticised Hardik Pandya’s form in this season’s Indian Premier League.
The 27-year old allrounder scored 281 runs at a strike rate of 178.98 for Mumbai Indians as they won their record fifth title in 2020, forming a destructive middle-order alongside older brother Krunal Pandya (109 runs) and West Indies international Kieron Pollard (268 runs).
However, this season the younger Pandya, who is also unable to bowl due a back injury, has struggled for form, scoring just 35 runs at a strike rate of 106.06 in four outings. His highest score of the tournament is 15, scored off 17 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders.
Taking to Twitter following Mumbai’s six-wicket defeat at the hands of Delhi Capitals, Pathan – who made 103 IPL appearances, scoring 1,139 runs and taking 80 wickets – was critical of Pandya, calling for the India international to step up with the bat.
He tweeted: "If Hardik isn’t bowling and not scoring runs lately [it] will hurt Mumbai Indians badly. He needs to show some responsibility as a batter."
Krunal Pandya (26 runs) and Kieron Pollard (49 runs) have also been performing poorly, with Pollard’s 35-run knock against Sunrisers Hyderabad the only time one of the trio has passed 20 in 12 attempts.
Mumbai are currently fourth in the table having won lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals either side of consecutive victories over KKR and Sunrisers.
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