MUMBAI: Star India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has come under fire from prominent former players following Mumbai Indians' fourth defeat in the current IPL.
Cheered by fans since he took over the MI captaincy, Pandya found himself in the firing line of legend Gavaskar and former England captain Kevin Pietersen after his side slumped to yet another defeat against Chennai Super Kings here on Sunday. the night
Pandya's 26 in the final over, with Mahendra Singh Dhoni hammering and tongs, proved decisive as Chennai Super Kings cruised to a 20-run victory over MI.
“Oh, absolutely normal bowling, normal captaincy. Ruturaj Gaikwad batted well with Shivam Dubey but he should have been restricted. I believe he should have been restricted to 185-190,” Gavaskar said.
“Probably the worst kind of bowling I've seen in a long time,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports during the innings break after CSK were 206 for 4.
“I seem to have this embrace with my captain. I've got the kind of deliveries he hits for sixes. A six is good. The next thing you know this batter is hunting is the length ball. The length ball he wants to hit.
“The third ball is a full toss back on the legs when you know he's looking for a six.”
Pandya took 2 for 43 in his four overs and had a torrid time with the bat, managing just two runs from six balls at the crucial stage of the game as MI posted 186 for six despite a 63-ball advantage. 105 from former captain Rohit Sharma.
Pandya has faced the wrath of the fans right from the first match and even followed him at the Wankhede Stadium, prompting Rohit and Virat Kohli to ask the crowd to calm down.
Pietersen feels the outside noise is taking a toll on the flamboyant all-rounder.
“I think everything away from playing with Hardik Pandya is affecting him a lot. He smiles a lot while tossing. He tries to act like he's very happy. He's not happy. I've been there. I've been in the firing line and I can tell you now, it affects you.
“The boos we're hearing now and I know he's happy to see ex-CSK captain Singh hitting him across the park, it hurts you. Because he has feelings. And he's an Indian player and he doesn't. I don't want to behave like this, so when this happens, it's on him. It affects, it affects his cricket and something has to be done.
The 43-year-old former batsman also wondered why Pandya didn't use his spinners when the pacers were being targeted by the CSK batsmen.
“What I saw this evening was not enough. I saw a captain who had plan A from the team meeting five hours ago and a captain who didn't want to go to plan B when he had to go to plan B. .
“It's like how you don't bowl a spinner in this land when your seamers are going for 20. Brian Lara said can we please bowl a spinner? Somebody has to bowl here. You have to change the pace of the game.”
MI will next take on Punjab Kings in Chandigarh on April 18.
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