Delhi:3 days before the start of IPL 2026, former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has given a big statement regarding Hardik Pandya. Kaif says that Pandya looked completely ‘clueless’ in the match against Punjab Kings in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2025. His condition was due to the stormy batting of Shreyas Iyer.
Let us tell you that in that match, Punjab team had achieved the target of 204 runs by Mumbai Indians with 6 balls remaining. During this chase, Iyer played an unbeaten inning of 87 runs on 41 balls, which included 5 fours and 8 sixes.
Kaif counted the mistakes of MI and Hardik Pandya
Kaif said in the video posted on YouTube that MI had made a big mistake by playing Rohit Sharma as an impact player during the season.
In this context he said,
‘Last season they made a big mistake that Rohit Sharma was not present on the field. I don’t think Rohit should be used as an ‘impact player’. He has won five IPL trophies as captain in IPL. Apart from this, he has won ICC Champions Trophy and T20 World Cup. Pandya will handle things well this season, but last year in Qualifier 2, when Shreyas Iyer was hitting sixes one after the other, Hardik Pandya was not able to understand what to do.
Kaif further said that if Rohit had been present on the field, it would have helped the Mumbai bowlers a lot.
The former Indian cricketer said in this context,
‘Ashwani had spent 50-60 runs in that match. When the match was tied and the bowler was ready to bowl, if Rohit was standing near him, it would have given the bowler a lot of courage. Just making eye contact with Rohit or explaining something with a smile makes a huge difference. Rohit has won many matches just by talking to the bowlers. He has been a ‘captain of bowlers’.
Kaif warns Pandya before IPL 2026
Before the upcoming season, Kaif gave special advice to Pandya and said that he should tell the team owners and coaches that he wants Rohit on the field. In difficult times, he needs someone with whom he can talk. Yes, Suryakumar Yadav is in the team and he is also a World Cup winning captain, but Rohit’s experience will be more useful.
Let us tell you that in IPL 2026, Mumbai Indians team will play its first match against Rajasthan Royals. This match will be played in Guwahati on 29 March.
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