All posts tagged: Hardik Pandya

Players are not able to finish 2-3 matches here

Players are not able to finish 2-3 matches here

Published by Webster

3 min readJul 20, 2026 06:30 AM IST India captain Shubman Gill has expressed his concerns around the increasing injury concerns which severely dented the team’s opportunity to put out a full-strength squad in England. With Hardik Pandya already missing the ODIs, India hoped to test Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana, but both end up missing the series with different injuries. Right through the three-match ODI series that India lost, they missed players at critical junctures. Before the series began, Rana was ruled out. And from the squad that was originally named, even all-rounder Nitish ended up missing the series with injury. Then in the middle of the series, Washington Sundar picked up an injury and then KL Rahul and Bumrah too ended up missing a game each because of illness and knee injury. And Gill said it is a huge concern. “Yes, absolutely. If you look at the squad the first score we announced, out of that, at least 5 players didn’t play this match. So, one player is injured, you have to …

Sanjay Manjrekar backs Hardik Pandya amid absence: ‘Don’t forget him’ | Cricket News

Sanjay Manjrekar backs Hardik Pandya amid absence: ‘Don’t forget him’ | Cricket News

Published by Webster

4 min readJun 24, 2026 10:03 AM IST As India embark on a twin tour of Ireland and England, one name hovers over the conversation – Hardik Pandya – who will not feature in either assignment, with his absence also extending to the Asian Games, as his international career appears to have taken a downward curve since India’s T20 World Cup triumph. However, former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar has urged caution against writing him off, backing the all-rounder’s proven big-match pedigree and match-winning ability on the biggest stages. “I am a huge admirer of Hardik Pandya’s ability. And if you want to see the real Hardik Pandya, then you just have to remember all the big games that he has played, especially World Cups and see his contribution. And even the IPL, the final rounds, the playoffs. Obviously, the selectors want him to be physically fit, ready and play more cricket,” Manjrekar said in an interaction moderated by Sony Sports Network. He stressed that Pandya’s impact in pressure situations remains a defining feature of India’s …

Ryan Ten Doeschate names the ideal successor for Hardik Pandya

Ryan Ten Doeschate names the ideal successor for Hardik Pandya

Published by Webster

3 min readJun 19, 2026 07:47 PM IST India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has said Nitish Kumar Reddy as the natural successor for Hardik Pandya when it comes to seam-bowling all-rounder. With Pandya still not certain to play ODIs, India have been investing on Reddy over the last 18 months and having added a few extra yards of pace, they are grooming him for next year’s World Cup. Although it could come down to one spot between Pandya and Reddy incase the former regains full fitness and is available for ODI selection, Ten Doeschate revealed having as many all-rounders as possible will offer India the much-needed balance in the format, which is lacking at present. “When Hardik’s fit, he obviously brings a different element because he’s such a strong batter, such a strong finisher. That sort of role scarcity is difficult to find a finisher who can give you overs as well. So those guys are all tracking really nicely. Like I said with Nitish, for the last 18 months he’s shown glimpses of …

Hardik Pandya suffers fresh injury setback, ruled out of India vs Afghanistan ODIs; England series in doubt

Hardik Pandya suffers fresh injury setback, ruled out of India vs Afghanistan ODIs; England series in doubt

Published by Parlour News

In a major blow to Team India, Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan due to a leg injury. The all-rounder had initially received clearance from Bengaluru’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) after completing a week of drills and fitness assessments, but a late setback has now forced him to withdraw from the June fixtures. Sources within the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) confirmed that Hardik will remain at the CoE to continue his rehabilitation. More trouble for Hardik Pandya (REUTERS) “Hardik had initially passed all the necessary tests and was given the clearance. But a late setback has ruled him out of the Afghanistan series. He suffered a quadriceps strain and has been advised for close to two weeks,” the source confirmed to Hindustan Times Digital. “He will be staying at the CoE to continue with his recovery process,” he added. It remains to be seen whether the team management and selection committee will name a replacement for the 32-year-old. His participation in the ODI …

‘When your brother also plays same sport…’

‘When your brother also plays same sport…’

Published by Webster

3 min readUpdated: Jun 4, 2026 09:36 AM IST Krunal Pandya was an integral part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) setup this season that succesfully defended their Indian Premier League (IPL) title. For both Pandya and RCB, there were significant milestones – RCB became just the third team to have won consecutive IPL titles, after famously having waited 17 years to win their first last season. For Pandya, this was the fifth time he had won the title, having won it four times in the past with the Mumbai Indians. It was also the second time he didn’t have his brother Hardik with him on the champions’ podium, with the latter instead having a forgettable season as captain of MI. Krunal and Hardik famously share a close relationship that has been seen on the cricket field a number of times in the IPL and with the Indian team. “Obviously, we have played together,” said Krunal in an interview with the Times of India. “We have always discussed cricket in terms of tactical, technical stuff …

IPL shake-up on the cards? Hardik Pandya for Dube, Mhatre trade idea suggested as CSK nudged for captaincy change

IPL shake-up on the cards? Hardik Pandya for Dube, Mhatre trade idea suggested as CSK nudged for captaincy change

Published by Parlour News

The uncertainty surrounding Hardik Pandya’s future at Mumbai Indians has become increasingly difficult to ignore. Calls for his release have gathered momentum following a disappointing IPL campaign in which the five-time champions finished ninth on the table. It was a season where MI struggled to find rhythm from the outset, with senior players unable to step up in high-pressure moments and the team repeatedly faltering when it mattered most. Hardik Pandya’s captaincy came under the scanner this season. (PTI) Hardik’s leadership also came under scrutiny as Mumbai failed to qualify for the playoffs for the second time in three seasons under his captaincy. The move to hand him the reins after a high-profile trade from Gujarat Titans, replacing long-time skipper Rohit Sharma, was always going to be a bold call. However, the results have yet to justify the decision, with questions now being raised about both the direction of the side and Hardik’s long-term role in the leadership setup at the franchise. Subramaniam Badrinath has stirred conversation with a bold trade suggestion involving Hardik and …

Pandya’s disappears momentarily on Instagram days after end of MI’s IPL campaign

Pandya’s disappears momentarily on Instagram days after end of MI’s IPL campaign

Published by Webster

3 min readUpdated: May 27, 2026 07:55 PM IST Hardik Pandya’s Instagram account appeared deactivated for a few hours just three days after the end of Mumbai Indians’ rather disastrous 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign. While speculation brewed online on why this may have happened, the handle reappeared a few hours later. The speculation was further fuelled by the fact that five-time IPL champions MI had a rather dismal campaign this season. MI finished second to bottom in the league table, tied on eight points with bottom-placed Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) having won just four out of the 14 matches they played and lost 10. Pandya himself had a rather forgettable outing individually. He scored 206 runs in 10 matches but finished with a strike rate of just 138.25, a far cry from the 163.50 he managed last season and well below the kind of strike rate he is known to maintain. Pandya also managed just four wickets in the nine innings that he bowled in and ended with an economy of 11.42. Pandya was …

Mumbai Indians IPL 2026 review: Hardik Pandya took the heat, but MI’s disaster ran far deeper than captaincy alone

Mumbai Indians IPL 2026 review: Hardik Pandya took the heat, but MI’s disaster ran far deeper than captaincy alone

Published by Parlour News

“It has been a season of what-ifs and overall disappointing for all of us.” From left, Mumbai Indians’ Raj Bawa, captain Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah after Chennai Super Kings won the IPL 2026 match, in Chennai (PTI) That one line from Kieron Pollard on Sunday perhaps summed up Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2026 campaign better than the points table could. A season that began with hopes of building on last year’s playoff finish slowly spiralled into confusion, inconsistency and collective underperformance. While captain Hardik Pandya inevitably became the face of the criticism, Mumbai’s collapse ran far deeper than leadership alone. For one of the rarest times in franchise history, almost nothing aligned — not Rohit Sharma’s form, not Suryakumar Yadav’s explosiveness, not Tilak Varma’s consistency, and not even Jasprit Bumrah’s brilliance could rescue them from a season that never truly took flight. On paper, Mumbai looked one of the strongest squads in the competition. The experts could not agree more. Most, if not all, had the five-time champions in their predicted playoffs line-up. And why …

Pollard on Hardik Pandya’s captaincy in IPL 2026: ‘Will question certain things’

Pollard on Hardik Pandya’s captaincy in IPL 2026: ‘Will question certain things’

Published by Webster

4 min readMay 24, 2026 10:27 PM IST The Mumbai Indians (MI) ended a forgettable IPL 2026 campaign with a 30-run loss to Rajasthan Royals – their 10th of the season – and finished ninth on the points table, with eight points in 14 matches. One of the major talking points was Hardik Pandya’s captaincy and his impact on the field. Batting coach Kieron Pollard backed the 32-year-old’s captaincy skills, despite a hard season, adding that he tried what he could with the resources he had. “From a leadership perspective on Hardik, yes, it has not gone maybe as well as he would have wanted as an individual. It might not have gone as we would have wanted as a management staff. But one thing you know is that we have tried each and everything to give the best opportunity to lead the franchise, to do well,” Pollard said at the post-match press conference. “Again, no one is going to sit here and put blame or point fingers. I think when you lose, especially, you …

Royals take last IPL 2026 playoff berth by beating Mumbai on their home patch | Cricket News

Royals take last IPL 2026 playoff berth by beating Mumbai on their home patch | Cricket News

Published by Webster

5 min readMay 24, 2026 08:50 PM IST Synopsis: Jofra Archer’s all-round exploits help Rajasthan Royals beat Mumbai Indians by 30 runs and qualify for IPL Playoffs. The Mumbai Indians–Rajasthan Royals clash on Sunday had not just the attention of a packed Wankhede Stadium, but also the Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders camps. In the end, RR, helped by a collective batting effort and Jofra Archer’s brilliance, prevailed to knock the other two contenders out of the playoff race. All-round impact After many seasons of failing to hit his straps, Archer has bowled with renewed venom in IPL 2026, and came into the final league match in excellent rhythm. The strong crowd of schoolkids raised their voices to the highest decibel level when Rohit Sharma made his way to the centre, and his duel with Archer was the one to watch out for. The pacer got out-swing on his first two balls and then, off the fourth, got one to move away sharply. Rohit played down the wrong line, the ball took the edge, …