IPL Auction 2025: Mumbai Indians' role in Hardik Pandya's 'selfish' knock vs SA exposed

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali launched a scathing critique on Hardik Pandya, calling his performance in the second T20I against South Africa "selfish" and saying that his knock ultimately cost India valuable runs following their narrow defeat in Gqeberha.

Hardik Pandya scored runs at a poor strike rate of 86, leaving one and all puzzled considering his decision to deny singles and hold onto the strike even as India had six wickets down.

Basit Ali's disappointment was clear, as he questioned Pandya's intentions, reckoning that the all-rounder’s approach seemed less about India's victory and more focused on his own performance.

Basit Ali criticizes Hardik Pandya’s cautious approach during India’s defeat against South Africa in the second T20I

The Indian cricket team’s batting lineup badly failed to deliver in the second T20I against South Africa, but Hardik Pandya's 39 off 45 balls laced with only maximum and four boundaries stood out, not for its brilliance but for its cautious and solitary approach to the tough surface in Gqeberha.

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After a collapse at the top, Pandya, along with Tilak Varma (20) and Axar Patel (27) tried to push India to a respectable total on the board against South Africa in the second T20I on Sunday. Sanju Samson, who smashed a century in the first T20I, was dismissed for a duck while big hitters like Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav also failed to score beyond single digits.

Despite Pandya, Tilak, and Axar's efforts, the Men in Blue could muster only 124/6 on the board, leaving the bowlers with little to defend. Despite this, Indian bowlers have almost pulled off a thrilling victory, but Tristan Stubbs’ (47*) late outburst eventually guided South Africa to a three-wicket win in Gqeberha.

Basit Ali questions Hardik Pandya's intentions in Gqeberha

With this thrilling win, South Africa leveled the ongoing four-match T20I series 1-1 against Team India, with the last two T20Is scheduled at Centurion and Johannesburg on November 13 and 15, respectively.

After the match, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav admitted even 140 runs are not enough to win the T20I match nowadays, visibly disappointed with his batters. Meanwhile, Basit Ali's frustration was not just with the sluggish pace but with Hardik Pandya’s refusal to take singles, which was baffling for many.

The former Pakistan cricketer said that Axar Patel played a quicker knock, scoring 27 off 21 balls before a run-out cut his innings in Gqeberha. He felt that Axar’s knock had a better impact than Pandya’s self-possessed approach.

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The former Pakistan selector further claimed that Pandya’s approach highlighted skewed focus, suggesting that the star all-rounder might be shifting focus towards his upcoming IPL 2025, where he will be leading Mumbai Indians (MI) after being retained as the skipper.

Axar Patel played better than Hardik Pandya in 2nd T20I: Basit Ali

Basit Ali said on his YouTube channel: “Pandya saab not out rahe, 39 from 45 balls, total apne liye khele (Pandya remained unbeaten, played only for himself). Apne liye kyu khele? Mujhe lagta hai IPL ki taiyari kar rahe hain Mumbai Indians ke liye (Why did he play for himself? I think he’s preparing for the IPL and for the Mumbai Indians).”

Basit signed off by saying, “It painted a very sorry picture, the way he was playing. He was not taking singles also, even though Arshdeep Singh had hit a six. India were not nine down that he was denying singles; they were just six down. He should have taken the singles. But he is a big player, and India's favourite. Axar batted better than him, who unfortunately got run out after scoring 27 runs off 21 balls.”