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"Coward" Fans Lash Out At Hardik Pandya For Hiding Behind Chahar Before Crucial 19th Over

Akshita Patel

Hardik Pandya faces heat [Source: @ImTanujSingh, @140_Manchester_/X.com]Hardik Pandya faces heat [Source: @ImTanujSingh, @140_Manchester_/X.com]

Mumbai Indians lost a close game to Gujarat Titans by 3 wickets in a dramatic rain-hit contest. After the rain relented, the chase was reduced to 19 overs, but Hardik Pandya instead handed over the ball to Deepak Chahar, and fans didn’t appreciate his tactics.

The recent MI vs GT contest at Wankhede Stadium had all the drama a cricket fan could ask for. After Mumbai posted 155 runs on the board in the first inning, Gujarat had a flying start. However, rain stopped the game twice.

At first, GT were ahead, but after the second stoppage of play, MI were ahead. But once the rain stopped at 12:00 AM, umpires agreed to reduce the chase to 19 overs.

Hardik Pandya Receives Backlash For Face-Saving Vs GT

Once the game resumed at 12:30 AM, Mumbai Indians had to bowl one over and defend 15 runs. However, in a surprising call, captain Hardik Pandya handed over the responsibility to Deepak Chahar instead of bowling the final 6 balls himself.

This decision left many MI fans disheartened as they expected Pandya to lead from the front. Many accused him of being a coward and hiding away from responsibilities.

"Hardik Pandya should have bowled last over, even though he was costly he is clutch player. Poor decision by him." - @HarsH_1822_

"Why TF Hardik Pandya isn't bowling. Why wouldn't you take responsibility. WTF is this Captaincy, why do you hide every single time. Piss Poor ! Piss Poor." - @CricketWtf

"Hardik Pandya is so shit pehla over lene aa jaaega lekin jab death bowling mai zarurat thi tab haath utha liya. Deepak chahar is not a death bowler." - @coldbrewtonic

"Hardik Pandya is coward captain." - @140_Manchester_

"Total FAILURE of CAPTAINCY by HARDIK PANDYA...why he not balls in FINAL Over...is he FEAR OR hee wants GUJRAT TO WIN???? COWORD CAPTAIN." - @AakashT45

That being said, the final over was even more dramatic. Rahul Tewatia hit a four off the first ball before Gerald Coetzee hammered a six. Chahar’s no ball proved to be a lifeline for GT, but Coetzee’s wicket in the penultimate ball once again changed the dynamics.

With 1 run needed off the last ball, Arshad Khan hit towards mid-off, where Hardik Pandya missed a direct throw, and the batters completed a run to lift GT to a nail-biting 3-wicket win.