IPL 2024: Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Hardik Pandya has some serious allegations thrown at him after his team’s recent outing against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL 2024. Former Kiwi player, at present broadcaster, Simon Doull believes Hardik Pandya is injured and is not revealing it to anybody to remain in the contention for Team India’s T20 World Cup squad.
Notably, all this happened, after Hardik Pandya didn’t bowl for his side in the last few matches of the IPL 2024. The all-rounder opened the bowling for his team in the first game against Gujarat Titans (GT). In the very next fixture, he bowled the second over and completed his spell of 4 overs.
However, in the next two games against Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Delhi Capitals (DC), Hardik didn’t even bowl a single over for his side, which raised concerns about his fitness as a bowler.
In Mumbai’s recent fixture against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Hardik Pandya bowled the 10th over of the innings, which went for 13 runs. He didn’t return to roll his arm again in the game.
After the match between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Simon Doull pointed out that Hardik Pandya has some sort of injury, which is preventing him from bowling.
“You go out and make a statement by opening the bowling in the game no. 1, and suddenly, you are not required. He’s [Hardik Pandya] injured. I’m telling you there is something wrong with him. He is not admitting it. But there is something wrong with him for sure. That is my gut feeling,” said Simon Doull speaking to Cricbuzz post the MI vs RCB fixture.
Doull was also not convinced to see Hardik Pandya in the Indian T20 World Cup squad just as a pure batter. When his fellow panellist, Harsha Bhogle, pointed out that if Hardik could turn up for the team as a pure batter, Doull shook his head in disagreement.
Hardik Pandya Injury’s Brief Timeline
Hardik Pandya’s injury has been the talk of the town for quite a long time. A good part of his peak cricket form has been eaten up by the injury concerns. When his stocks took an upward ride back in 2018 as an explosive all-rounder and finisher, he copped a major blow in his lower back.
After the subsequent surgery and recovery, he suffered another injury in 2019 owing to which he missed many matches on his side. He has been on and off the field between 2019 and 2023, and in those outings, he has mostly been available as a pure batter. Very seldom the cricketer has provided his bowling services to the team.
A very unfortunate ankle injury kept him away from the field from October 2023 to March 2024. The all-rounder didn’t take part in any of the domestics and kept his focus glued to his recovery. He missed Team India’s white-ball assignments in the lead-up to the IPL 2024 as well due to the injury.
So far in the TATA IPL 2024, Hardik Pandya has looked fine. In the few overs he bowled, he hasn’t felt any serious issue. However, his no-bowling stance in the last few matches has created a big fuss among the fans. However, all the shadows of doubts will be cleared in the upcoming matches for Mumbai Indians.
Mumbai Indians (MI) will show up at the Wankhede Stadium on April 14 against the arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2024 match number 29.
ALSO READ: Who will be India’s wicketkeeper in the 2024 T20 World Cup?