Hardik Pandya faced numerous challenges this season, with constant criticism affecting both his own performance and that of the Mumbai Indians team, as noted by head coach Mark Boucher. The team's disappointing season saw them lose to Lucknow Super Giants by 18 runs, with only 4 wins out of 14 matches, leaving them at the bottom of the points table.
The decision to replace Rohit Sharma as captain with Hardik faced backlash from fans, leading to further pressure on the new captain. Despite the struggles this season, Boucher expressed confidence in Hardik's leadership abilities and indicated that a thorough review of the team's performance will take place, with decisions on the captaincy to be made in due course. Rohit Sharma, on the other hand, acknowledged his underperformance this season, citing a lack of consistency in his batting and a need to avoid overthinking to improve his game.
Boucher emphasized that Rohit's future with the team remains uncertain, with the player focused on the upcoming T20 World Cup. Additionally, Hardik Pandya received a fine and a one-match ban for slow over rates, marking the end of Mumbai Indians' season with no advancement to the knockout stages.
