“MS Dhoni started this trend of denying singles” - Murali Kartik slams Hardik Pandya after MI’s 12-run loss to LSG

Former Indian cricketer and commentator Murali Kartik slammed Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya for denying singles in the last over of the chase against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the 16th match of the IPL 2025 season at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Friday, April 4.

Moreover, Hardik Pandya suggested that Tilak Varma retire from the crease as the young batter was failing to middle the ball. He could score only 25 runs in 23 balls before moving back to the pavilion, retired out.

Kartik lashed out at Hardik Pandya for this surprising move, as Mitchell Santner could score only two runs off one ball. Moreover, Pandya didn’t give strike to Santner, who has the capability to hit the maximums.

"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. I think MS Dhoni started this trend of denying singles. Now many players are doing this," Murali Kartik said on Cricbuzz.

After the 12-run defeat to the Lucknow Super Giants, MI captain Hardik Pandya took full responsibility for the defeat. He urged the batters to play simple cricket with a bit of aggression in the upcoming matches. 

"If we want to take responsibility, we'd take it as a whole unit and I'll take ownership. That was obvious, we needed some hits, in cricket sometimes one of those days comes when you try but it doesn't come off. The decision says itself why we did it (retire Tilak Varma out). Just play good cricket. I like to keep it simple, make better calls, take your chances in batting and play simple cricket with a bit of aggression," Hardik Pandya said during the post-match presentation.

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