Watch video: Lasith Malinga leaves chair for Hardik Pandya; Why is internet infuriated?

New Delhi: Mumbai Indians (MI) faced another setback in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season as they suffered their second consecutive defeat, this time against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). After a narrow loss to Gujarat Titans (GT) in their season opener, MI encountered a comprehensive defeat at the hands of SRH, who posted a mammoth total of 277-3, marking the highest-ever team score in IPL history.

Video of the incident viral on social media

Amidst MI's struggles, a video circulating on social media has caught attention, suggesting a possible rift within the team. The video purportedly shows MI captain Hardik Pandya being ignored by bowling coach Lasith Malinga, who vacates his seat and moves away, leaving Pandya to sit beside an evidently disgruntled Kieron Pollard.

Hardik didn't even tried to stop Malinga from getting up and leaving the chair for him. Look at the face of Pollard even he is not comfortable. Pandya doesn't know how to respect seniors. He could have brought new chair 😡😡#MIvsSRH #SRHvMI #RohitSharma𓃵 #klaasen #HardikPandya pic.twitter.com/araISohypL

— Rishabh (@iamrishabhNP) March 27, 2024

SRH's record-breaking performance

SRH's batting onslaught, led by opener Travis Head (62 off 24 balls) and Abhishek Sharma (63 off 23 balls), rewrote IPL records, with the team achieving the highest-ever total in the league's history. Heinrich Klaasen's unbeaten 80 off 34 balls further propelled SRH to break the 11-year-old record for the highest team total in a T20 league match.

Mumbai Indians' resilient response

Despite the daunting target set by SRH, MI's batsmen showcased resilience, putting up a commendable fight and managing to post a competitive total of 246-5 in their allotted 20 overs. The match witnessed a record-breaking tally of 38 sixes, marking the first instance of 500 runs being scored in a T20 game.

Hardik Pandya's post-match remark

Reflecting on the high-scoring encounter, Hardik Pandya acknowledged the challenge posed by SRH's formidable batting lineup, emphasizing the difficulty faced by bowlers on a batting-friendly pitch. Despite the defeat, Pandya's remarks underscored the exceptional batting display witnessed during the match.

As MI grapples with on-field challenges, the emergence of the viral video adds fuel to speculations regarding team dynamics and interpersonal relations, raising questions about the cohesion within the squad amidst a demanding IPL season.