Hardik Pandya and Mumbai Indians’ struggles continue in the ongoing IPL season. MI suffered their seventh defeat of IPL 2026 on Saturday, going down to arch-rivals CSK, a result that has pushed them to the verge of elimination. However, former India opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth launched a scathing attack on Hardik Pandya, slamming his captaincy and accusing him of shying away from responsibility when the team needed.

“Hardik Pandya can’t lay bat on ball, and with the ball also, he is scared. He gives Krish Bhagat the ball in the powerplay instead of bowling himself. Teams are smashing Bhagat, yet Hardik is scared to bowl in the powerplay,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel. “Hardik Pandya is playing terribly. You are playing as the captain. They had no clue in the middle and end overs. What was Hardik Pandya even trying to do? It was hard to understand. Hereafter, no one will feed balls on a length for Hardik. They’ll only bowl into the body and tuck him up. Teams are completely locking him up.”

READ HERE: Shubman Gill Breaks Silence On ODI Futures Of Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli

He also criticised MI for continuing to back Tilak Varma, who has struggled for runs this season apart from a century only.

“Tilak Varma then ate ball after ball and that’s where the pressure started. He is playing so ordinarily. Barring that one century, he has struggled big time this season. One sunny day doesn’t make a summer. Likewise, just one good knock won’t do. He should be dropped. He is batting horribly. They must bring some new batter instead,” he added.