Hardik Pandya had to taste a loss in the very first match after he held the reigns of Mumbai Indians. Ironically, Hardik Pandya was playing against the side he had left just ahead of IPL 2024. Tempers flared between the fans of Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma as the captaincy transition was not as smooth as expected. However, with MI’s loss against Gujarat Titans in their first game, fans were not in the mood to spare the all-rounder.
Hardik Pandya’s emotions were palpable when he caught David Miller at mid-off. He celebrated extensively, more than the bowler Jasprit Bumrah himself. He held the ball in his hand without letting it go and exclaimed his lungs out as his teammates converged. Moreover, the all-rounder was at his mercurial best as he was seen changing the field time and again, differing from his usual laidback self at the Gujarat Titans.
I think Hardik Pandya looked a little bit tentative- Hardik Pandya
Former Australian all -rounder Tom Moody claimed that Mumbai Indians weren’t going to press the trigger on Hardik Pandya’s captaincy even if they have a few tough results at the start of the season. On this he said :
“It will be very short-sightedness if five games in or eight games in it’ll change. Hardik Pandya’s leadership role, as controversial as it was and as big a shock it was to lots of people, especially MI fans, I think it’s a long-term decision,”
“I think he looked a little bit tentative, I think he looked a little bit anxious. The captain that we saw over the year at Titans, was very much relaxed and very much in control leader,”
He’s got a few challenges in front of him. He is at a huge franchise in Mumbai Indians and he has got some big-time players around him, who have also got a huge amount of experience, also have got captaincy experience. So he has to step up even further,” Moody said during the Star Sports Press Room show.
“There’s no doubt that the relationship between the captain and the coach is absolutely key. And that’s the new relationship forming at MI now with Boucher and Hardik Pandya. So that is going to take time to gel and to work effectively. And that’s got nothing to do with the game yesterday,” he added.
Moody further added that the developments might seem controversial in the first go, but the management views it as the long term vision for the franchise. He also stressed on Pandya building relationships with the key figures in the dressing room and that could be the key factor in his success at the MI camp.
“I’ll be very surprised if that’s the case. It’ll be very short-sighted if suddenly five games in or eight games in it’ll change. It’s that long term vision. So I think for Hardik Pandya, elevation in that leadership role, as controversial as it was and as a shock it was to lots of people, particularly MI fans, I think it’s a long-term decision.
As Bala said, that thing to make sure he wins the dressing room and builds those strong relationships with key people in the dressing room is key to his success moving forward,” Moody added.
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.