IPL 2024: Irfan Pathan slams Mumbai Indians' captain Hardik Pandya after Kolkata Knight Riders loss

Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan launched a scathing critique against Mumbai Indians' skipper Hardik Pandya following the team's defeat against KKR in the ongoing IPL 2024 on May 3 at the Wankhede Stadium.

The five-time champions fell short in their pursuit of 170 runs, getting dismissed for 145 in the second innings. Pathan lambasted Pandya for his leadership skills post-match and heavily criticised him for losing control of the game.

Pathan remarked that there was no justification for Pandya to bowl three overs to Naman Dhir when KKR were struggling at 57/5 in the 7th over of the encounter.

Pathan asserted that MI could have easily contained KKR to 150 runs, but they squandered the opportunity by conceding an additional 20 runs.

"Mumbai Indians' story is finished in the IPL 2024. They were a very good team on paper but they have not been managed well. Questions on Hardik Pandya's captaincy are absolutely valid," he said on his Instagram account.

"Today when KKR were 57/5, you bowled three bowlers of Naman Dhir. You bowled your 6th bowler, let KKR form a crucial partnership between Manish Pandey and Venkatesh Iyer. The 83-run partnership took KKR to 170 when they should have only got to 150 and that turned out to be the point of difference," he added.

Meanwhile, Pathan added that Mumbai were not playing as a unit under the leadership of Hardik which could be an indication that there were groups forming in the team.

"Cricket is a game where captaincy and management is crucial and MI at the moment are not playing as a team and that's the biggest talking point of the season for MI. It is important for the players to accept their captain and I don't think it has happened for MI this season," Pathan further added.

It must be noted Mumbai Indias are currently in the 9th spot in the league table with 6 points from 11 games and their chances of qualifying in the playoffs are very minimal