Hardik Pandya plays a shot during the IPL match between MI and RCB in Mumbai, Sunday, April 12, 2026. (AP Photo) NEW DELHI: Sanju Samson blasted 85 off 48 balls. Chennai Super Kings were already running away with the game at the Wankhede. Hardik Pandya still had two overs left for Mumbai Indians but the MI skipper bowled the ball towards Krish Bhagat who was playing only his second IPL game.Bhagat went for 16 runs and MI ended up facing the biggest defeat by runs in IPL history, by 103 runs. In the end, it turned out to be a meaningless over in the context of the match, but questions were raised about Hardik’s decision to opt against bowling the last over. MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene later described it as an opportunity for the youngster (Bhagat) to “step up”.
Watch
Is everything wrong with Suryakumar Yadav’s wrist? | Exclusive visualsSince the start of 2026, Hardik has bowled 60 balls (10 overs) at the death for India in eight innings, taking five wickets and conceding an economy rate of 9.7. In the ongoing IPL, he bowled just three overs in seven innings at this stage, taking one wicket and conceding 15.7 overs.Hardik is a crisis manager in India colours, a trusted player for the World Cup finals (two years ago at Kensington Oval in the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa). In the 2026 T20 World Cup semi-final against England, he played 19 at the Wankhede.In T20Is, Hardik Pandya is India’s ‘clutch god’ with bat and ball. But when he plays for Mumbai Indians, from 2024, this clutch god is invisible. In India colours, Hardik Pandya is everywhere. Hardik Pandya is nowhere to be found in MI’s Blue and Gold from 2024 onwards.
Hardik with the ball from 2024
Since 2024, when Hardik returned to MI from Gujarat Titans (GT), he bowled 108 balls in the first six overs for MI, conceding 219 runs at an economy of 12.17 and an average of 73.0 with three wickets.For India in T20Is, Hardik conceded 394 runs in 290 deliveries in 31 innings in overs 1-6. His economy in India drops to just 8.15 and he averages 39.4 with 10 wickets.
Hardik Pandya’s T20 bowling numbers in overs 1-6 from 2024 (AI generated image)
The same pattern is followed in the “death overs” between overs 16-20.In India colors since 2024, Hardik has bowled 179 balls in 16-20 overs and conceded 274 runs at an economy of 9.18. He averaged 15.2 and conceded 18 goals in the same period.For MI junior Pandya has conceded 208 runs in 88 balls since 2024 and has an economy rate of 14.18. This means Hardik is conceding five more runs in an over than bowling for MI in the death overs compared to India in T20Is.
Hardik Pandya T20 bowling figures in over 16-20 from 2024
A striking difference in the success of Hardik’s strokes in the ‘death
‘From 2024, between overs 16-20, Hardik played 302 balls in 26 innings for India, scoring 556 runs at a convincing strike rate of 184.1. The all-rounder averages 29.3 with the bat in the same period, while hitting a six every 7.7 balls.As far as MI is concerned, Hardik Pandya’s numbers are dropping drastically. Since 2024, the right-handed batsman has faced 173 balls in the IPL between overs 16-20, scoring 270 runs and his strike rate dropping to 156.1. Hardik averages 15.0 and hits a six every 11.53 balls.
Hardik Pandya T20 batting numbers in over 16-20 from 2024
Dig deep and you’ll find the problem exposed.Since 2024, only five batsmen (Surya, Tilak, Naman Dhir, Tim David and Pandya) have played 50 or more balls for MI in over 16-20 in the IPL. Among them, Hardik Pandya, though scoring the most runs for MI in this period, scored just 156.1, the worst of the five.The closest to Pandya is Tim David who scored at 181.42 when he was part of MI in 2024. Surya scored with the highest strike rate in that period at 204.71.In India too, Pandya has scored the most runs (556) in 16-20 overs since 2024. But his success rate has shot up to 184.11, the third best of any Indian batsman who has faced at least 50 balls at the same stage.
Hardik Pandya reacts after RCB captain Rajat Patidar hits a six during the IPL match between MI and RCB in Mumbai.
Missing aura
The above numbers do not suggest that Hardik is to blame for MI’s dismal performance in two of the last three IPL seasons, far from it. However, the MI captain has not been at his best for the franchise since his return in 2024, compared to his performance for India in the same period.Whether captaincy pressure is a factor in this decline is a question only Hardik can answer. However, the numbers say Hardik hasn’t had the same impact on Mumbai Indians since his return in 2024.
Hardik Pandya: same player, different impact
For India, Hardik Pandya is the player they trust to bowl difficult overs and finish matches with the bat. But since returning to Mumbai Indians in 2024, he hasn’t had the same impact in the IPL. The numbers show that the player India depends on has looked different while playing for MI.
