MS Dhoni dragged as Indian player slams Hardik Pandya for Mitchell Santner behaviour

Former cricketer Murali Kartik slammed Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Hardik Pandya for his decision-making in the final over of the IPL 2025 match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Kartik questioned why Pandya didn’t rotate strike after bringing in Mitchell Santner to replace the struggling Tilak Varma.

In 2014, MS Dhoni decided to keep strike with India needing 16 runs to win off the last over. He smashed the first ball for six and took two more runs off the next. However, Dhoni turned down a single on the third delivery with Ambati Rayudu at the non-striker's end. He again refused a run on the second-last ball.

England pacer Chris Woakes conceded just one run off the last two balls, sealing a narrow three-run win for England.

Mitchell Santner Sent in With Hardik Pandya After Tilak Varma Was Retired Out

Mitchell Santner was sent in to bat during the second-to-last over. Santner replaced Tilak Varma, who had retired out after a sluggish 25 off 23 balls. Hardik Pandya lifted hopes with a six off the first delivery during delivery, bringing the target down to 16 runs needed from the remaining five balls.

Hardik Pandya refused to give Mitchell Santner the strike when the team needed 14 runs from the last four balls. Pandya couldn’t find the boundary on the following delivery and again declined a single. The MI skipper then missed a full delivery in the slot, handing MI their third defeat of the season.

MS Dhoni Started This Trend of Denying Singles - Murali Kartik

Murali Kartik questioned Mumbai Indians’ tactics in their loss to Lucknow Super Giants. He pointed out that Santner was brought in for his hitting ability, but it made little sense for Hardik Pandya to refuse singles. Kartik said that Santner might have capitalized on the deliveries Pandya missed.

"I did not understand what MI were trying to do. If you feel that Tilak is not having a good day, he is not able to strike it well, you brought in Santner, and he scored 2 runs off 1 ball. If you brought Santner in with the belief that he can hit big, then why didn't they take a single in the last over? The shots that Pandya missed, who knows, Santner could have hit them for sixes," Kartik said on Cricbuzz.

"I think MS Dhoni started this trend of denying singles. Now, many players are doing this," he added.

Mumbai Indians to face the Royal Challengers Bengaluru next

Lucknow Super Giants posted a formidable total of 203/8 after being put in to bat. Mitchell Marsh (60), Aiden Markram (53), Ayush Badoni (30), and David Miller (27) chipped in with crucial contributions. For the Mumbai Indians, Hardik Pandya was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with impressive figures of 5/36.

In response, Mumbai Indians managed 191/5 in their 20 overs. Suryakumar Yadav top-scored with 67, while Naman Dhir (46) and Hardik Pandya (28) added valuable runs, but the rest of the batting lineup couldn’t capitalize.*

MI will next face Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday, April 7. With just one win from four matches, they are currently placed seventh on the IPL 2025 points table.

Also read: Watch- Suryakumar Yadav openly pulls out swords against Mumbai Indians' management after baffling Tilak Varma moment