Former Team India all-rounder Irfan Pathan continued his tirade against Hardik Pandya following the latter's elevation to the post of vice-captain of the national side for the forthcoming T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the US in June. 

Ahead of the tournament, there was much speculation that Hardik Pandya could lose his place in the 15-member squad for the marquee competition due to his struggles with form in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). Still, the Ajit Agarkar-led national selection committee showed faith in his abilities.

Perhaps the one reason that may have clicked in Hardik Pandya's favor is the TINA factor. There is no alternative (TINA) to the kind of ability that Hardik Pandya possesses – after all, he's the lone genuine fast-bowling all-rounder in the team.

Interestingly, Irfan Pathan has been accused of running a propaganda campaign against Hardik Pandya, often criticizing him for his on-field decisions and performances.

Irfan Pathan, who was the Player of the Match in the T20 World Cup final in 2007, the only ICC event in 20-over cricket India has won, opined that premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah deserved to be the vice-captain of the Indian Cricket Team. He reckoned that the Indian selectors missed a trick by naming Hardik Pandya as Rohit Sharma's deputy.

Irfan Pathan also took potshots at Hardik Pandya's injury-prone international career before raising questions about his commitment to the national team.

“Previously, Hardik Pandya held the captaincy, but Rohit Sharma took over for T20 matches. Post T20 World Cup, there was a new plan; they aimed for a younger team with Pandya and Surya as potential captains,” the cricketer-turned-commentator told Star Sports.

“Yet, questions arise regarding Pandya's performance consistency and commitment to Indian cricket. Regular participation in domestic cricket is essential for serving Indian cricket throughout the year. Injuries are inevitable, but proper planning involving consistent match play, including domestic cricket, is vital for a player's return. But then there's this one player who returns from injury without fulfilling the same requirements. That shouldn't happen because it sends the wrong message to the rest of the team, he added.

“When they see one player receiving special treatment, it disrupts the team environment. Cricket isn't like tennis; it's a team sport where equality is vital. Every player should be treated fairly and equally. Regardless of whether you're a newcomer or a seasoned player like Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli, cricket is a team sport first and foremost,” Irfan Pathan continued.

“I've witnessed things in the past, particularly during the T20 World Cup last year, that went against the principles of Indian cricket—instances where certain players were given undue advantage, which is unacceptable. To succeed in tournaments like the World Cup, it's imperative that every player is treated fairly and equally,” the former India pacer explained.

“So, now, coming back to your question about Hardik Pandya being vice-captain, I understand the rationale behind it due to the importance of continuity in leadership. However, considering the current performance, the selectors opting for continuity may be understandable. Yet, I believe someone like Bumrah wouldn't have been a bad choice either,” Irfan Pathan elaborated.

One must remember that Hardik Pandya was named as the captain of the Mumbai Indians ahead of the 17th edition of the IPL, replacing the much-loved Rohit Sharma from that position.

Since then, fans have been giving an extremely harsh reception to Hardik Pandya during MI's IPL fixtures across the country, with the 30-year-old cricketer facing boos and even expletives on occasions.

Moreover, he has been woefully out of form – both with bat and the ball in the current edition of the Indian Premier League.

He's managed to score only 197 runs at a mediocre average of 21.89 with a highest score of 46 in the ten matches he's played in the tournament so far.

It is worth highlighting that his highest score of 46 came against the Delhi Capitals (DC) on Saturday when Hardik Pandya showcased his class for the first time in IPL 2024 as he took their spinners, including Kuldeep Yadav to the cleaners.

In the bowling department, the Gujarat-born all-rounder has hardly bowled and when he has taken up the ball, he has gone for plenty of runs.

Hardik Pandya has picked just six wickets in ten games but what would be worrying the Mumbai Indians management is his economy rate.

In the 23 overs, Hardik Pandya has bowled, he has been virtually clobbered by opposition batters, allowing them to cherry-pick him for sixes and boundaries. The result is that he has given away runs at 11 per over.