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[Watch] Fielding Drills Or What? Hardik Pandya Holes Out To Siraj Like Having Training Session

Jatin

Hardik Pandya departed cheaply [Source: @kuchnahi1269083/x.com]Hardik Pandya departed cheaply [Source: @kuchnahi1269083/x.com]

Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya had a night to forget with the bat in Match 9 of IPL 2025 against his former team Gujarat Titans at the jam-packed Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. After a solid effort with the ball, where he bagged 2/29 and helped restrict GT to 196/8, all eyes were on Hardik the batter.

Hardik Pandya Perished While Trying To Cut Kagiso Rabada

But what followed was a painful knock that never really got off the ground. Walking in with the chase in a tricky spot, Hardik Pandya scratched around for 11 off 17 balls, struggling to find any rhythm or timing. There were plays and misses, mistimed swings, and a few nervy singles, all adding up to an innings that just refused to flow.

On the final ball of the 17th over, Kagiso Rabada bowled a clever slower bouncer outside off. Hardik went for the cut over short third man, a shot straight out of desperation more than conviction.

But he couldn't generate the power or elevation, and ended up handing a simple catch to Mohammed Siraj. Just like that, Hardik’s painful stay at the crease ended and so did MI’s last realistic hope.



Another Nail In MI’s Early Season Coffin

At the time of his dismissal, Mumbai Indians were reeling at 124/6, chasing a tough target of 197. The required rate had already shot past the stratosphere and Hardik’s wicket was the final nail in the coffin.

By the end of the 18th over, the scoreboard read 134/6 and MI need a near miracle to stay alive. But with 63 needed off the final 12 balls, the writing is on the wall. This will be be their second straight loss, after the opener against CSK.

Meanwhile, Hardik looked sharp with the ball earlier in the evening, bowling tight lines and picking up two key wickets to keep Gujarat Titans under 200. But when it came to leading from the front with the bat, he just couldn’t get going.

For a man known to finish games and soak pressure, this one will sting. And for MI, two losses in two means alarm bells are already starting to ring. They will need their captain to bounce back and fast if they want to turn this season around.