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IPL 2024 | 'Stop Blaming Hardik Pandya For Everything' - Pollard Defends MI Captain

Hardik Pandya blamed for loss vs GT in IPL 2024 (X.com)Hardik Pandya blamed for loss vs GT in IPL 2024 (X.com)

Amid a huge wave of criticism over captaincy errors, Mumbai Indians batting coach Kieron Pollard jumped into the defense of captain Hardik Pandya saying how decisions are made collectively by the team and not just a single entity. 

Hardik Pandya dropped himself down to No.7 during a tight chase against Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2024 season-opening game held in Ahmedabad last week. 

Instead of leading from the front, Pandya promoted Tim David, which led to the Mumbai Indians six-run defeat.

However, Kieron Pollard disregarded the idea of Hardik Pandya being the sole entity calling shots in the dressing room.

While talking to TOI, Pollard said a team collectively takes decisions on ideal batting order and other aspects of the game. Nobody has the privilege of full autonomy, not even Hardik Pandya. 

"No decision is made on full autonomy, so we can't say it is his decision. Usually, if you look at it over time, Tim (David) has finished games for us, and Hardik had done it over the years. It didn't happen tonight. But all those things are in hindsight," Pollard remarked.

Thus, Pollard advised fans to stop the blame game and called for the end of scrutiny against Hardik Pandya. 

"It's not hardik Pandya's decision to bat number 7. As a team, we make decisions, so let's put a stop to 'Hardik Pandya made a decision, Hardik did this, Hardik did that'. We are a team. We make decisions collectively as one," Pollard said.

Further explaining the idea behind the decision to promote Tim David over Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard explained that both of them are proven finishers of the game. They hoped for either of them to fire and take the team home. 

But unfortunately, the plan fell flat. However, the speculations are in hindsight. As a team, MI owns up to the plans and decisions they make during crunch situations.

Furthermore, Pollard also defended Hardik Pandya's tactics to bowl the first over over frontline pacer Jasprit Bumrah. 

"You have to plan & decide what you want to do as a team. Hardik Pandya has also bowled with the new ball for Gujarat Titans. He swung the new ball and bowled it well, which was nothing new to us," Pollard added.

The former cricketer added that Hardik had previously bowled spells with the new ball for Gujarat Titans and produced significant swing movement. So, there's nothing wrong with backing one's strengths and instincts.