Hardik Pandya’s Mumbai Indians failed to win their first match of Indian Premier League 2024 against Gujarat Titans. After coming back as the MI captain, Hardik Pandya failed to inspire his team to a win, failing both with bat and ball, and possibly as a captain as well. Hardik Pandya was criticized for starting with the ball instead of Jasprit Bumrah and then coming in too late in MI’s chase of 169 runs on Sunday, 24 March in Ahmedabad.
Hardik Pandya ,the MI captain has not had a smooth start to his captaincy on his comeback to the franchise that made him a household name in the Indian cricketing scene. Hardik Pandya was asked about a ‘captaincy clause’ in his contract ahead of the season, a question that he ignored. Hardik Pandya too was criticized by fans on social media as well for the treatment of Rohit Sharma during the match.
Fans and Media lashes out at Hardik Pandya’s treatment to former MI and India skipper Rohit Sharma in the opener for MI
Captain Hardik Pandya took complete control of the proceedings in his first match as skipper of the Mumbai Indians even as the 5-time champions lost to Gujarat Titans in their IPL 2024 opener in Ahmedabad on Sunday, March 24. In a viral video, Hardik Pandya was seen commanding Rohit Sharma on the field as the former captain was moved around on the field during Gujarat Titans’ innings at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Rohit Sharma, who has been used to fielding inside the ring, was a little surprised when he was asked to field in the deep by newly-appointed captain Hardik Pandya. The Baroda all-rounder looked animated as he wanted to get his field placements right in the final over of the Gujarat Titans innings.
Hardik Pandya asked Rohit to go to near the boundary rope after the former captain was fielding inside the 30-yard circle. After Rohit took a position along the boundary, Hardik Pandya wanted his former captain to move to his right further as he made sure bowler Gerald Coetzee had the right man at the right areas.
A section of fans did not like what they saw as Rohit Sharma had to do the running in the final over of the Mumbai Indians’ contest. While it’s normal for a captain to use his best fielders at the right spots, emotional Rohit Sharma fans took to social media to lash out at Hardik Pandya.
In fact, Rohit Sharma took a catch in the deep in a rare sight as the former Mumbai Indians captain played the team man’s role to perfection. In the 8th over of the match, Rohit took Shubman Gill’s catch at long-on after Piyush Chawla tempted the Gujarat Titans to mistime a big shot.
It was not a happy homecoming for Hardik Pandya as the Mumbai Indians captain was booed by the Ahmedabad crowd at the toss. A large section of fans at the Narendra Modi Stadium were seemingly not happy with the Hardik’s trade from Mumbai to Gujarat. Notably, Hardik, who was first given the role of captain in the IPL by Gujarat Titans, led the team to title in 2022 and the final in 2023 before he made a shock trade move back to MI before last year’s auction.
Former Indian bowler L Balaji has urged Hardik Pandya to win over the hearts of MI dressing room as skipper in order to turn out on the ground as an unit.
You have to win your own men- L Balaji’s advice to Hardik Pandya
Former Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders pacer L Balaji has argued that Hardik Pandya is yet to win over the dressing room at MI. Speaking at the Star Sports press meet, Balaji said that Hardik needs to win over his dressing room first if he wants things to function smoothly at Mumbai Indians.
“It’s been going on for a while, definitely it’s not normally something which you see, a lot of friendships happen, players have gone to different franchises, yes this is one of the cases, but being in a professional field you have to accept that one side is emotional and one side is something very big, when you come to replace a personality like Rohit Sharma who is already a phenomenal achiever when it comes to Mumbai Indians,”
Definitely, it will take some time, it will settle,” L Balaji said during a press interaction arranged by Star Sports.
Balaji further added :
“And you have to win your own men, so for Hardik to win the whole dressing room is very important as a player and as a human so definitely that trust needs to be earned and it will take some time to adapt and accept,”
Balaji however believed that Pandya was perfectly capable of changing things around and said that if MI started winning things will get significantly better in the camp.
“I’m sure he’s good enough and professional enough and he’ll accept that and he’s got a young team around him and when they start winning the emotions will be different. If they start losing, then you have problems to face. So slowly things will pop up. It’s better to have a friend in a winning front rather than a losing front,” concluded the former pacer
Nonetheless, Mumbai Indians looked a settled camp as captain Hardik and former captain Rohit were seen having a light-hearted lengthy chat after the end of the match on Sunday. Mumbai Indians next face SunRisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad on Wednesday and the 5-time champions will be keen on bouncing back to winning ways