Jamie Overton 'exposed' Hardik Pandya's weakness; Mitchell McClenaghan points out MI captain's batting flaw

Jamie Overton 'exposed' Hardik Pandya's weakness; Mitchell McClenaghan points out MI captain's batting flaw originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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According to former MI pacer Mitchell McClenaghan, Jamie Overton has “exposed” one of the biggest weaknesses of Hardik Pandya’s batting.

The weakness revolves around Pandya's inability to face bowling with good length.

This is being highlighted as Mumbai Indians are facing a tough time in IPL 2026.

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Mitchell McClenaghan feels Jamie Overton "exposed" Hardik Pandya’s weakness

Former Mumbai Indians fast bowler Mitchell McClenaghan opined that Jamie Overton exposed Hardik Pandya's weak point while batting, especially in a consistent way, which can be used by any other team against him.

MI fell to their third straight defeat for the second time this season, with a 99-run win over the Gujarat Titans separating an earlier losing run of four games, as the Chennai Super Kings did the double with an eight-wicket win at Wankhede.

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Speaking on Star Sports show Game Plan ahead of MI vs LSG IPL 2026 game on Monday, McClenaghan said, “Hardik Pandya has been struggling. I think he Jamie Overton exposed a weakness in Hardik Pandya, that hard length outside the off stump, and Hardik just looked to muscle the ball maybe a little bit too much.

“And I think back to when I was playing with Hardik Pandya, he had that uppercut shot he used quite regularly and he could hit over point. And it's probably just him going back to what he used to play instead of just trying to look down the ground into mid-wicket.”

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LSG can take notes from Overton's spell

“It's actually opening up the whole ground and using the pace of the delivery as well because I think, particularly with this lineup that they've got, they've got high pace throughout their attack and LSG will be trying to expose that weakness that Jamie Overton found, and he's going to have to find a way to combat that,” McClenaghan warned.

According to McClenaghan, the major problem is that Pandya doesn’t have many choices left if he doesn’t get the ball in his hitting areas. By maintaining strict length, bowlers have been able to make him play outside off stump, where rotation of strike becomes tough for Pandya.

MI face must-win situation ahead of LSG clash in IPL 2026

With just five matches left for the team to save their IPL 2026 season, MI have to defeat their opponents, starting from the match against LSG scheduled for Monday.

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The team might have to win all the games to make sure that they get 14 points, although their NRR is quite poor, and the victories have to be large-margin ones.

MORE:Mumbai Indians' IPL 2026 playoff chances

The Cricket News Opinion: Overton exposes a pattern, Pandya’s response is key

Although Mitchell McClenaghan is correct in saying that Jamie Overton has found a pattern in Hardik Pandya’s batting, describing it as a long-term weakness would be an exaggeration.

There are many great batters who have been figured out by opposing sides, but the key to success lies in how one adapts to these challenges. It is important for Pandya to learn from his mistakes and develop a way to tackle such situations in the future.

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