Mumbai Indians Knocked Out of IPL 2024, Hardik Pandya's Inclusion in T20 World Cup Squad Questioned

Mumbai Indians' IPL 2024 campaign has come to an abrupt end, making them the first team to be eliminated from the tournament. The Hardik Pandya-led side has struggled throughout the season, with a lack of consistency and a series of setbacks.

Before the tournament began, the Mumbai Indians camp was already facing turmoil with the removal of Rohit Sharma as captain. The team's performance has not improved since then, with the side failing to find a winning formula.

Adding to the team's woes, four of its key players - Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah - are currently representing India in the 2024 T20 World Cup. This has further depleted the Mumbai Indians' squad and made it difficult for them to compete.

According to reports, the Mumbai Indians camp was expected to settle down over time, but this has not been the case. Sources have claimed that skipper Rohit Sharma and some BCCI selectors, including Ajit Agarkar, were not in favor of Hardik Pandya's inclusion in the 15-member T20 World Cup squad.

Pandya's performance in the IPL 2024 has been inconsistent. In 13 games, he has scored 200 runs at a strike rate of 144.93 and taken 11 wickets at an economy of 10.59. However, most of his good bowling performances have come in the latter half of the tournament.

The report also suggests that Pandya's selection for the T20 World Cup was made "under pressure." It further claims that Rohit Sharma may consider retiring from the T20 format after the World Cup.

When Rohit Sharma and Ajit Agarkar were asked about Hardik Pandya's inclusion in the T20 World Cup squad despite his poor form, Agarkar explained that the selection committee had no choice as there was no suitable replacement available.

The Mumbai Indians' elimination from the IPL 2024 is a major disappointment for the team and its fans. The side will now have to regroup and rebuild for the next season.

Tags: #MumbaiIndians, #IPL2024, #HardikPandya, #RohitSharma, #T20WorldCup