Ravi Shastri's Scathing Criticism of Mumbai Indians Owners in Midst of Hardik Pandya-Rohit Sharma Captaincy Controversy
Former Team India coach Ravi Shastri has backed Hardik Pandya amid the criticism he faced during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Ravi Shastri said the captaincy transition could have been better managed with clear communication. The 30-year-old was sold from Gujarat Titans (GT) to Mumbai Indians (MI), where he took over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma. Given Rohit's leadership in winning five IPL titles, the decision created a significant backlash among fans of the franchise.
Hardik was booed by MI fans during their first match of IPL 2024 against Gujarat Titans. This negative reception continued in subsequent matches, including their first home game against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Wankhede Stadium on 1 April. Hardik Pandya's captaincy debut for Mumbai Indians took a disappointing turn with three straight losses leaving the team at the bottom of the points table. Among the ten rival teams, MI is the only team without a win in the current season.
Hardik Pandya wanted as captain - Ravi Shastri
Speaking on the media 'Cricket Live Show', Ravi Shastri highlighted the difference between franchise cricket and the Indian cricket team. Shastri suggested that franchisees have the right to choose their captain. However, he opined that MI owners could have done a better job in terms of clarity and communication. “This is not the Indian cricket team that is playing. This is franchise cricket. They paid top dollar. They are the boss. Whomever they want as captain is their right. Well, where I think this could have been handled better was with more clarity in the conversation,” said Shastri.
“If you want Hardik Pandya as captain, say we are looking at the future. We are looking to build. Rohit has done a great job, as everyone knows, and we want him to help Hardik in these next three years as the team moves forward," he added. Hardik Pandya's performance has been inconsistent, scoring 69 runs at an average of 23 with a strike rate of 153.33. He gave away 76 runs with one wicket at an economy rate of around 11. His captaincy, particularly the limited use of Jasprit Bumrah in the powerplay, has also faced scrutiny.
Win a match, and things will change - Ravi Shastri
Ravi Shastri encouraged Hardik Pandya to maintain composure amid criticism and prioritize on-field performance. He expressed hope that Mumbai Indians' success in matches would reduce the negative chatter. "At the end of the day, nothing beats results. You win matches, and things change... A lot of it has been put on other people's names, including mine," Shastri added. Rohit Sharma had earlier led the franchise to five IPL titles till last year. On the other hand, Hardik Pandya experienced success in guiding Gujarat Titans to championship and runner-up finishes in 2022 and 2023 respectively.