Simon Doull believes that Hardik Pandya should not solely be blamed for Mumbai Indians’ poor performance in the IPL 2026. Despite a strong start with Ryan Rickelton’s impressive 123*, MI suffered their sixth defeat as Sunrisers Hyderabad easily chased down the target. Heinrich Klaasen’s partnership with Nitish Kumar Reddy and Salil Arora sealed the win for SRH. Hardik’s bowling was ineffective, conceding crucial runs. Jasprit Bumrah went wicketless and Suryakumar Yadav struggled with only five runs. Doull emphasized that the team’s struggles go beyond Hardik, questioning the management’s decision to appoint him as captain over Rohit Sharma. He highlighted the presence of strong personalities in the MI dressing room, making it a challenging environment. Doull called for accountability from the top management for the team’s poor performance over the past few years. The ownership, director of cricket, and manager need to take responsibility for the team’s shortcomings.
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