IPL 2024: Mohammad Nabi of MI recently shared a fan’s post on Instagram that criticized MI’s captain, Hardik Pandya, for his leadership during the ongoing IPL 2024 season. Although Nabi later deleted the post, it garnered attention as it featured an image of Nabi taking a catch with a caption questioning Hardik’s decision-making.
The fan highlighted that Hardik did not utilize Nabi’s bowling skills during MI’s match against PBKS at the Mullanpur Stadium near Mohali on April 19th. The caption read, “Some of your captain’s decisions are quite perplexing and leave fans puzzled! Nabi didn’t bowl today.”
Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh lambasted Punjab Kings management for the decisions that they made against Mumbai Indians in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. (MI Bowler Completely Ignores Hardik During Final, Rohit Sets Field; Video Goes Viral – Watch)
MI made PBKS batter totter hard while chasing a target of 193. The pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Gerald Coetzee made short work of the PBKS opening batters and played a major role in reducing PBKS to 77/6.
In the absence of designated skipper Shikhar Dhawan and opener Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran opened the inning for the hosts. After Punjab lost three wickets within the blink of an eye, Liam Livingstone was promoted in the order and sent in for the number four spot. The decision of PBKS management didn’t go well with Harbhajan, as he slammed the management for their decisions.
“What was the point of sending Sam Curran to open? Prabhsimran got out while trying to pull. I can understand that both players got out on not-so-dangerous deliveries. Then the delivery that got Rilee Rossouw out was sensational. But then you Sent Livingstone as a batsman who plays the role of finisher and whenever he is the captain, he goes on no. 6 because he plays the role of finisher,” Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel. (From Coin Flip To DRS Disputes: Are Umpires Mumbai Indians’ 12th Man In IPL 2024?)
After top batters failed to leave their mark, the uncapped Indian duo of Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma raised hopes of an unprecedented comeback. Shashank struck 41 off 25 deliveries, while Ashutosh took the game deep with his 61 off 28 deliveries.
“We have to appreciate Shashank and Ashutosh. I want to understand how this management works. They send Livingstone up in the batting order and the players who are in form, Shashank are sent afterwards. You sent Harpreet Bhatia ahead of him. If you have brought him, then you should have waited. If Sahshank and Ashutosh were not there PBKS would have fallen before 100. Ashutosh is in form and he should be promoted to the batting order. You should give youngsters an opportunity,” he added.
Recapping the match, star speedster Jasprit Bumrah’s (3/21) and Gerald Coetzee’s (3/32) influential spells, along with a scintillating 78-run knock from Surya Kumar Yadav, helped the Mumbai Indians defeat the Punjab Kings by nine runs. MI survived an unprecedented Ashutosh (61 off 28) blitz after Suryakumar Yadav’s 78 helped the visitors post 192/7. (With ANI inputs)