Hardik Pandya, Mumbai Indians (MI) captain, has revealed how he goes about chasing. With MS Dhoni on the wane, it’s safe to say that Hardik is the best Indian finisher at the moment in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Hardik Pandya & MS Dhoni’s differing style of chasing targets
The all-rounder has often claimed that he’s learnt from Dhoni in more ways than one. But when it comes to how they actually go about chasing the targets, Hardik is different.
Dhoni is an old-school chaser while Hardik is more modern. In Dhoni’s own words, he likes to break up targets and gives equal attention to strike rotation.
“It’s all about setting small targets. I think what’s important is to break the number of runs into small (requirements). In these next two or three overs, we need to take 10 runs, 15 runs, or even 8 runs. When you take the big score and break it into small targets and you keep achieving those targets, it gives you confidence,” Dhoni had said in 2015 after beating Zimbabwe in the ODI World Cup.
MS Dhoni & Hardik Pandya stats comparison in IPL chases
| Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 50s | Highest Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS Dhoni | 93 | 2177 | 38.87 | 134.05 | 10 | 84 |
| Hardik Pandya | 61 | 1044 | 24.85 | 142.4 | 3 | 91 |
However, Hardik looks to hit more boundaries. Both set small targets and look to complete them, but the way they go about it is quite different.
“I don’t have a set plan. I look at the scorecard and what the team needs. When I’m chasing, I count on my fingers how many sixes are needed and how many singles. Let’s say if I need 50 runs from 24 balls, I need to hit 6 sixes. That’s 36 runs, and now I have a 10-ball buffer,” Hardik told Star Sports before IPL 2025 starts.
One of the best finishers going around, the @mipaltan skipper @hardikpandya7 reveals his thought process behind his finishing prowess
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) March 16, 2025with the bat.
Will he score the most sixes this season?
Yeh IPL hai, yahan sab possible hai!
Watch #HardikPandya in SUPERSTARS on… pic.twitter.com/U16PB8O4zR
