Hardik Pandya faces stern selection amidst dismal IPL 2024 season

Mumbai Indians aren’t having the greatest of the Indian Premier League (IPL) seasons yet again. The five-time winners have been undergoing yet another season where they have been inconsistent with the bat and ball. One of the biggest issues for Mumbai Indians has been the controversy which has taken off the field even before the season could begin. 

Hardik Pandya was named as the skipper of the team and that created an immediate discontent. There are talks of camps and divisions in the team, and players according to many on social media have already taken sides. 

While all the hoopla around the captaincy situation doesn’t seem to end, Hardik Pandya himself is under pressure. The 30-year-old has been struggling form with the bat and ball and it has come at a very bad time. The selectors are set to sit down to pick the squad for the upcoming ICC T20I World Cup. 

Is Hardik Pandya’s spot in danger?

IPL 2024 hasn’t seen the best of Hardik Pandya as he has scored just 151 runs in the 8 matches he has played. The average of 21.57 is so far his third worst in his IPL career for Hardik Pandya. 

Even with the ball, the right-arm pacer has picked just 4 wickets with a best of 2/43 and his economy of 10.94 is the worst of his IPL career. So one question that everyone is asking is if this is indeed the end of Hardik Pandya’s ambition as far as the T20 World Cup is concerned. 

The simple answer is just not yet, the selectors do not have any other alternative to Hardik Pandya. The name of Shivam Dube has been discussed but the CSK man is more of a batter who rolls his arms a little bit rather than being a regular bowler. 

One of the most worrying points for Rohit Sharma, Rahul Dravid, and Ajit Agarkar will be the form of Hardik Pandya. In his day there is no better player in the world than the 30-year-old from Baroda. But the IPL 2024 season has been a huge letdown for the MI skipper who was eagerly waiting to make his return to cricket. 

A lot of former Indian cricketers have also spoken about the concern regarding Hardik Pandya’s mental state. All the booing and trolling from fans seems to have played a huge role in the performance of Hardik Pandya going south. 

All is not lost though as there are six games left in the season for Mumbai Indians. The five-time IPL winners are by no means out of the reckoning for a place in the top four. If Hardik Pandya can find his inner resolve the confidence and the swagger will be back. The Indian fans will be eagerly waiting for Hardik Pandya the all-rounder to deliver the good once more.