Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya is facing heavy criticism after his decision-making in the final overs led to the team’s third loss in IPL 2025, this time against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 12 runs. While the retirement of Tilak Varma during the chase shocked fans, it was Pandya’s choice to stay on despite struggling that sparked a major controversy.
Tilak Varma Retired Out, But Not Hardik Pandya?
With 29 runs needed from 12 balls, MI took a bold step by retiring out Tilak Varma, who had scored 25 off 23 balls but failed to accelerate. The move was intended to bring in Mitchell Santner, who could potentially go big from ball one.
However, Pandya—who was also having trouble timing his shots—remained at the crease. This raised serious questions from fans and former players alike.
“If Tilak was struggling, so was Hardik. Why didn’t he retire himself out too?” asked an Indian cricketer, triggering a massive debate online.
Harbhajan Singh, the former India spinner, also voiced his support for this view, expressing disappointment over MI’s tactical blunders.
Final Over Collapse – MI’s Chase Falls Apart
The drama escalated in the last over. MI needed 14 runs off 4 balls, and Hardik was on strike. He started with a six, raising hopes—but then:
- Ball 3: Dot (mistimed shot to long-off)
- Ball 4: Dot (inside edge onto pads)
- Ball 5: Single (too late for any comeback)
With 13 needed off the final ball, Santner had no chance, and MI’s chase fell flat.
Social Media Meltdown – Fans Demand Accountability
MI’s back-to-back questionable decisions—retiring Varma but not Pandya, and refusing singles in crunch moments—set social media ablaze. Hashtags like #HardikPandya, #MIvsLSG, and #RetiredOut started trending, with fans slamming the team’s tactics and calling for better leadership.
What This Means for Mumbai Indians
As MI slips further down the IPL 2025 points table, their decision-making under pressure is under the spotlight. With more matches to go, the franchise will need to regroup, rethink their strategy, and find the right balance between bold moves and sound judgment.
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