IPL 2024: 'He needs to bat higher' - Anil Kumble's advice to MI skipper Hardik Pandya ahead of SRH tie

Former Indian spinner Anil Kumble feels Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Hardik Pandya needs to bat up the order in IPL 2024. Ahead of MI's second game, where they lock horns with Pat Cummins-led Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Hyderabad on Wednesday (March 27), Kumble shared some advice for Hardik and stated that the all-rounder should come up the order. The new MI captain was criticised for promoting Tim David to face Rashid Khan in the end overs of Mumbai's unsuccessful 169-run chase versus Gujarat Titans (GT) on Sunday (March 24), in Ahmedabad.

Ahead of MI's crucial game versus SRH, Kumble opined that Hardik needs to come up the batting order and also hoped for Mumbai to learn from their mistakes. Talking on Jio Cinema, he said, "Mumbai Indians were in a great position in their first game when they needed 43 off the last 5 overs with 7 wickets in hand. They let the chase too deep. Hardik Pandya needs to come up the batting order. In T20 cricket, when you are chasing, you are looking at 19 overs and not 20. MI would be learning from the mistakes that they committed in the last game."

Recalling MI's chase versus GT in their season-opener, Mumbai were well-placed at 130-4 in 16 overs and needed just 39 off the last 24 balls. However, they bottled the run-chase with Hardik demoting himself and sending David ahead despite an over in hand for Rashid. As a result, the Afghan star put a brake on the scoring rate and Mohit Sharma and Umesh Yadav's death-bowling ensured Shubman Gill-led GT won by six runs. Rashid ended with 4-0-23-0 whereas Mohit returned with 4-0-32-2 and Umesh defended 13 off the last over, removing Hardik despite being hit for two boundaries.

MI would like to get past their winless start and get off the mark when they face SRH. Cummins & Co, on the other hand, are coming into this clash on the back of a narrow four-run loss to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), in Kolkata, in a high-scoring thriller.