Hardik Pandya, who was appointed as the captain of Mumbai Indians (MI) for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, has received some criticism from his teammates over his decision. Pandya replaced Rohit Sharma, who led the franchise to five IPL titles since 2013.
According to sources, some of the players were unhappy with Pandya’s choice and felt that he was not ready to take up the responsibility. They also questioned his ability to handle the pressure and expectations of leading a team that has a huge fan following and a rich history.
One of the players who expressed his displeasure was Jasprit Bumrah, who is widely regarded as one of the best bowlers in the world. Bumrah said that he respected Pandya as a player and a friend, but he did not think that he was suitable for the captaincy role. He said that Pandya lacked experience and maturity to lead a team like MI.
Another player who voiced his opinion was Suryakumar Yadav, who is one of the most explosive batsmen in IPL. Yadav said that he was surprised by Pandya’s appointment and felt that it was unfair to him. He said that he had been performing well for MI and deserved to be considered for the captaincy position. He also said that he had more chemistry and rapport with Rohit Sharma than with Pandya.
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Pandya, however, defended his decision and said that he had full support from Rohit Sharma and Mahela Jayawardene, MI’s Global Head of Performance. He said that he had always admired Rohit Sharma as a leader and wanted to follow his footsteps. He also said that he had learned a lot from him during their time together at Gujarat Titans, where they won two IPL finals in consecutive seasons.
Pandya also said that he believed in himself and his abilities as a captain. He said that he had worked hard on improving his skills and fitness over the years and was ready to take on any challenge. He also said that he had a clear vision and strategy for MI’s success in IPL 2024.
Pandya will make his debut as MI’s captain on January 3, 2024 against Delhi Capitals at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi. He will be hoping to lead MI to their sixth IPL title and cement his legacy as one of India’s finest captains.
