Hardik Pandya Reflects on Mumbai Indians’ Poor Performance in IPL 2024
The Mumbai Indians’ disappointing performance in the 2024 IPL season has left all-rounder Hardik Pandya feeling dejected. The team’s second last-place finish in three years, following a similar result in 2022, has prompted Pandya to acknowledge the subpar quality of cricket played by the five-time champions. Despite high expectations upon his return to the team, Pandya’s leadership only secured four wins out of 14 matches.
According to Pandya, the lack of good quality cricket ultimately cost the Mumbai Indians their season. In a post-match statement after the team’s 18-run loss to the Lucknow Super Giants, Pandya expressed his disappointment, stating, “It was quite difficult. We did not play good quality cricket, which eventually cost us the whole season.”
Pandya emphasized the professional nature of the sport, noting that the team must always strive to put their best foot forward. However, he admitted that as a group, they failed to deliver quality or smart cricket throughout the season. As the IPL 2024 draws to a close, Pandya intends to analyze the team’s performance and identify areas for improvement. Reflecting on the challenges faced, he mentioned, “The whole season kind of went wrong. We can pass this game as another one that went wrong.”
LSG Skipper KL Rahul Shares Disappointment Over Missed Playoffs
Similarly, Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) skipper KL Rahul expressed his disappointment over the team’s failure to make the playoffs in the IPL 2024. At the start of the season, Rahul believed that LSG had a strong lineup with most bases covered. However, a series of injuries and absences, including the country’s fastest bowler Mayank Yadav, impacted the team’s performance.
Rahul acknowledged that LSG did not play well collectively and struggled to come together as a unit. Despite their efforts, the team fell short of their desired level of performance. Looking back at their recent match, Rahul highlighted the importance of bowlers and batters performing cohesively, emphasizing the need for greater teamwork and synergy on the field.
As Rahul looks ahead, he remains non-committal about his batting position in future T20 matches. With his absence from the Indian squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, Rahul refrained from making definitive statements about his role within the team. He indicated a willingness to adapt based on the team’s needs and his individual performance goals, stating, “I’ll think about what the team needs.”