Hardik Pandya-Rohit Sharma MI Captaincy Saga: Irfan Pathan REACTS After RR Beat MI in IPL 2024 Tie

Mumbai: It was a night to forget for the Mumbai Indians on Monday and as expected captain Hardik Pandya is facing the heat from all quarters. While some are blaming him for not being able to capitalise with the bat when his team needed him the most, others reckon he should be replaced as the skipper of the side. Amid all of this, former India cricketer has reacted after the game. Admitting that as a leader you are expected to do the difficult things, Pathan said if Hardik cannot do it he will not earn the respect of his teammates.

“You always want your Leader to do the difficult things. If he doesn’t do it he won’t earn his team’s respect,” Pathan tweeted.

You always want your Leader to do the difficult things. If he doesn’t do it he won’t earn his team’s respect.

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 1, 2024

Meanwhile, the Royals defeated Mumbai Indians by six wickets to register their third consecutive win in this edition of the IPL on Monday.

Opting to bowl first, Rajasthan Royals stopped Mumbai Indians at 125 for nine and then chased down the target with 27 balls to spare. The in-form Riyan Parag again played very well to remain not out on 54 off 39 balls. MI were off to a disastrous start as they found themselves tottering at 20 for four in the innings’ fourth over in their season’s first home game.

Again subjected to booing by fans, MI skipper Hardik Pandya responded with a 21-ball 34, while Tilak Varma chipped in with 32 in 29 deliveries. Veteran pacer Trent Boult bowled extremely well to finish with 3/22, while leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal ended with excellent figures of 3/11, including picking the big wicket of Pandya when he was looking good for more runs. This was MI’s third straight defeat.