Hardik Pandya had a chance to exit IPL 2024 on a good note by powering Mumbai Indians to beat Lucknow Super Giants. Mumbai Indians took on the Lucknow-based team on Friday (May 18) at the Wankhede Stadium.
It was Mumbai Indians’ last game of the season and they would have liked to end their campaign on a winning note. However, the five-time champions again failed to deliver and ended up losing the game by 18 runs. Hardik Pandya once again failed to lead his team from the front as he had a poor outing with both bat and ball.
With the ball, he bowled two overs and gave away 27 runs without picking any wicket. The India all-rounder had a chance to make amends with the bat in the second half of the game but he too failed to do so. Chasing 215 runs, Mumbai Indians were 97 for 3 in the eleventh over when Hardik Pandya came out to bat.
Mumbai Indians were 88 for 0 at one point before losing three wickets in no time. The responsibility of stabilizing the ship and bringing them to a strong position fell to its captain. Hardik Pandya started well by hitting a four and a six in the first ten balls he faced.
However, he failed to build on the positive start and was dismissed by Mohsin Khan for just 16 runs. The Mumbai Indians captain ended up guiding a short ball straight to Naveen-ul-Haq at third man. And since Pandya didn’t perform well again, fans quickly took to X (formerly Twitter) to take shots at him.
Here are some of the reactions to Hardik Pandya’s performance:
As always he has no idea #Hardikpandya
– Mr.Sam 310 (@JoelSam99258320) May 17, 2024
‘In search of a diamond, Mumbai Indians lost gold’ #MIvsLSG #RohitSharma Hardik Pandya pic.twitter.com/7JKqr0xSl1
– Ex Bhakt (@exbhakt_) May 17, 2024
Hardik Pandya in IPL 202416 (13) vs LSG 2 (4) vs KKR 1 (3) vs SRH 0 (1) vs KKR 46 (24) vs DC 10 (10) vs RR 10 (6) vs PBKS 2 (6) v CSK 21* (6) v RCB 39 (33) v DC 34 (21) v RR 24 (20) v SRH 11 (4) v GT He ends the season without a fifty in his debut as captain of MI.#MIvsLSG pic. twitter.com/jU916jPnTD
– (@izharulindia) May 17, 2024
Hardik Pandya the captain, the man, the myth, the legend 🙏🏻 #MIvsLSG pic.twitter.com/SaCQcesopR
– Vijay (@veejuparmar) May 17, 2024
Hardik Pandya, you are not that guy, friend.
– rahuwl (@rahullCFC) May 17, 2024
Hardik Pandya in IPL 2024: With bat- Runs: 216 Average: 18
With ball-Runs: 387 Overs: 36 ER: 10.75 pic.twitter.com/UrfZrB7eqb
– Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) May 17, 2024
Brother Hardik Pandya, forget about this season and join GT again.
– khxshhh (@khxshhh) May 17, 2024
Hardik Pandya fans this season: #MIvsLSG #IPL2024 pic.twitter.com/5z5JvuhCci
– setbetofficial (@Setbetofficial) May 17, 2024
At least Rohit Sharma has given some performance with his bat, while Hardik Pandya totally failed with the bat in this IPL.
All the best Indians of Mumbai, your future is dark. #MIvsLSG pic.twitter.com/giU4PJXoYc
– Ctrl C Ctrl Memes (@Ctrlmemes_) May 17, 2024
Rohit Sharma ends the season as the leading run-getter for Mumbai Indians.
Hardik Pandya ends the season with the lowest average ever achieved by an MI captain. pic.twitter.com/cqHNnqSsdt
– User45 (@140of113) May 17, 2024
Another flop, Hardik Pandya, has become a major concern for the World Cup. He needs to be in top shape for the World Cup, but he hasn’t achieved that yet. You should think twice if you depend on him as a finisher. pic.twitter.com/IsbOVV2upG
– Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952_) May 17, 2024
Hardik Pandya the Captain, the man, the myth.
Unreal consistency, just crazy😍🔥From Tuk tuk pic.twitter.com/seVk9anHKi
– Ajay Yadav (@AjayYadav143ss) May 17, 2024
The Hardik Pandya headband is back. No wonder he started leaking runs. pic.twitter.com/5aQpeaO52c
– RATNISH (@LoyalSachinFan) May 17, 2024
18.0 AVG – Hardik Pandya in 2024
In the last 10 years….This is MI Captain’s worst average in an IPL season#MIvsLSG
– (@Shebas_10dulkar) May 17, 2024
Hardik Pandya in IPL 2024:
After replacing Rohit Sharma as captain of Mumbai Indians, Hardik Pandya was under pressure from the start of the tournament. And the all-rounder could not live up to the expectations as he struggled with bat and ball throughout the tournament.
In 14 games, he scored 216 runs at an average of 18. With the ball, he picked up 11 wickets but has an economy rate of 10.75. With his IPL campaign done and dusted, Pandya will be desperate to bounce back and do well in the upcoming T20 World Cup.