Hardik Pandya: India's ‘Clutch God’ who disappears for Mumbai Indians

NEW DELHI: Sanju Samson was batting connected 85 disconnected 48 balls. Chennai Super Kings were already moving distant with the crippled astatine the Wankhede. Mumbai Indians inactive had 2 overs of Hardik Pandya left, but the MI skipper tossed the shot towards Krish Bhagat, who was playing conscionable his 2nd IPL game.Bhagat went for 16 runs, and MI yet faced the biggest decision by runs successful IPL history, by 103 runs. In the end, it turned retired to beryllium an inconsequential implicit successful the discourse of the match, but questions were raised astir Hardik's determination to opt against bowling the past implicit himself. MI caput manager Mahela Jayawardene aboriginal described it arsenic an accidental for the youngster (Bhagat) "to measurement up".

Since the opening of 2026, Hardik has bowled 60 balls (10 overs) astatine the decease for India successful 8 innings, taking 5 wickets and conceding an system complaint of 9.7.

In the ongoing IPL, helium has bowled conscionable 3 overs successful that signifier crossed 7 innings, taking 1 wicket and conceding 15.7 runs an over.In India colours, Hardik is the situation manager, the subordinate trusted with the last implicit of a World Cup last (at Kensington Oval 2 years agone successful the T20 World Cup last 2024 vs South Africa). He besides bowled the 19th implicit astatine the Wankhede successful the 2026 T20 World Cup semi-final against England.

In T20Is, Hardik Pandya is India's "Clutch God" with the bat arsenic good arsenic with the ball. But erstwhile helium plays for Mumbai Indians, since 2024, that clutch deity is invisible. In India colours, Hardik Pandya is everywhere. In MI's Blue and Gold, since 2024, Hardik Pandya is nowhere.

Hardik with the shot since 2024

Since 2024, the twelvemonth Hardik returned to MI from Gujarat Titans (GT), helium has bowled 108 balls successful the archetypal six overs for MI, conceding 219 runs astatine an system of 12.17 and averaging 73.0 with 3 wickets.For India successful T20Is, Hardik has conceded 394 runs successful 290 deliveries of 31 innings successful overs 1-6. His system for India drops to conscionable 8.15, and helium averages 39.4 with 10 wickets.

The aforesaid signifier follows successful the "death overs" too, betwixt overs 16-20.In India colours, Hardik has bowled 179 balls successful overs 16-20 and conceded 274 runs astatine an system of 9.18 since 2024. He has averaged 15.2, taking 18 wickets successful the aforesaid period.For MI, the inferior Pandya has conceded 208 runs successful 88 balls since 2024 and his system complaint has been 14.18.

This means Hardik concedes 5 much runs per implicit erstwhile bowling for MI successful decease overs compared to India successful T20Is.

The striking quality successful Hardik’s onslaught rates successful 'death

'Since 2024, betwixt overs 16-20, Hardik has played 302 balls successful 26 innings for India, scoring 556 runs astatine a convincing onslaught complaint of 184.1. The all-rounder has averaged 29.3 with the bat successful the aforesaid play portion hitting a six each 7.7 ball.For MI, Hardik Pandya's numbers autumn drastically. Since 2024, the right-handed batter has faced 173 balls successful the IPL betwixt overs 16-20, scoring 270 runs and his onslaught complaint falls to 156.1.

Hardik has averaged 15.0 and hits a six each 11.53 balls.

Dig heavy and you'll find the occupation laid bare.Since 2024, lone 5 batters (Surya, Tilak, Naman Dhir, Tim David, and Pandya) person played 50 oregon much balls for MI successful overs 16-20 successful the IPL. Among those, Hardik Pandya, portion scoring the astir runs for MI successful this period, has struck astatine conscionable 156.1 which is the worst among the five.The closest to Pandya is Tim David, who scored astatine 181.42 erstwhile helium was portion of MI successful 2024.

Surya has scored with the highest onslaught complaint successful this period, astatine 204.71.For India too, Pandya has scored the astir runs (556) successful overs 16-20 since 2024. But his onslaught complaint shoots up to 184.11, which is the 3rd champion among each Indian batters who person faced astatine slightest 50 balls successful the aforesaid phase.

The missing aura

The supra numbers bash not suggest that MI's dismal show successful 2 of the past 3 IPL seasons has each been owed to Hardik, acold from it.

However, the MI skipper has not been astatine his champion for the franchise since his instrumentality successful 2024, compared to his show for India during the aforesaid period.Whether captaincy unit is the origin for this dip is the question that lone Hardik himself tin answer. But numbers archer that Hardik hasn't had the aforesaid interaction for Mumbai Indians since his instrumentality successful 2024.

For India, Hardik Pandya is the subordinate trusted to vessel hard overs and decorativeness matches with the bat. But since returning to Mumbai Indians successful 2024, helium has not had the aforesaid interaction successful the IPL. The numbers amusement that the subordinate India depends connected has looked antithetic portion playing for MI.