IPL 2025 Qualifier 2 against PBKS: Hardik Pandya's captaincy under scanner

Following Mumbai Indians' (MI) loss against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL 2025 Qualifier 2 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, captain Hardik Pandya's leadership tactics are under scanner.

Former SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) head coach Tom Moody has put a question mark over Hardik's strategy in the bowling department. The former Australian all-rounder was not pleased with Hardik not bowling his full quota of four overs and rather trusting England pacer Reece Topley, who was playing his first match of the IPL 2025 season.

"Hardik should have had a two-for. That second over, that catch that you'd expect Trent Boult to take 99 times out of 100. He fresh-aired it. Not even a firm glove on it. He should have bowled. He was executing what was required on that surface," said Moody.

"The opportunity was missed. He should have had a two-for, and I agree, he should have come back and grabbed the bull by the horns, and said, 'Right, okay, I'm going to bowl in here," he added.

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Moody is of the opinion that Topley looked like a bowler conditioned for nets

"Topley looked like a bowler that was conditioned for nets but way off the mark for real, high-pressure, competitive cricket. That's what he was missing. It's very hard to come from being on top of your game, feeling you've got rhythm, bowling good areas in the nets, to suddenly transferring that to a pressure-game situation," said Moody.