Hardik Pandya’s first match as Mumbai Indians captain didn’t go as planned. The traveling team failed to get 43 runs off the last five overs against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi stadium. When Dewald Brevis and Tilak Varma were batting confidently. Mumbai were the favorites, but GT staged a comeback, taking MI’s six wickets for 38 runs and winning the game by six runs.
Hardik was involved in the first game as he dived around and celebrated animatedly after taking a catch. He hit a six and a four with the bat but was not impressive with the ball. He instructed his teammates about the field placements and bowling changes during the game. But one such directive to MI captain Rohit Sharma went viral.
Hardik told Rohit to go to the long-on region in the final over of the Gujarat Titans’ innings, which Gerald Coetzee bowled. The former skipper didn’t know that the instruction was for him and asked the skipper whether he was pointing towards him. Once informed, he went to the position. But that wasn’t the end, as Hardik wanted him to be a little squarer or at mid-wicket and kept gesturing to Rohit with his hand.
It was a different experience for Rohit, as he has a habit of fielding inside the 30-yard circle. He could quickly speak to his teammates by staying at mid-on or covers. This time, the role was with Hardik. With Pandya giving orders to Rohit, some fans were not pleased.
Meanwhile, Sharma scored 43 off 29 balls, including seven fours and a six. His 77-run partnership with Dewald Brevis set the tone for the five-time champions while chasing 169 runs, but GT had the last laugh. MI batters couldn’t get going in the death overs, but Mohit Sharma’s variations and Umesh Yadav’s experience resulted in their team’s victory.
Sai Sudharsan scored 45 runs for the Titans, although it came off 39 balls. For MI, Jasprit Bumrah took three wickets.