AB de Villiers criticized Hardik Pandya’s leadership in IPL 2024, suggesting that his bravado and ego-driven style may not resonate well with the experienced players in the Mumbai Indians squad.
After leading a young team to victory in 2022 and securing runner-up in 2023, Hardik Pandya faced a drastic shift in public opinion within a year, mainly due to his decisions. Despite a successful stint in 2023, Pandya’s return to Mumbai Indians, a team he left in 2022, ended in disappointment as they failed to qualify for the 2024 playoffs, marking the first elimination of the season.
Criticism heightened when legendary cricketer AB de Villiers remarked that Pandya’s captaincy style didn’t resonate with the senior players, labeling it as bravado and ego-driven, unsuitable for a team with seasoned veterans. When speaking on his YouTube channel, De Villiers suggested Pandya’s approach might work well with younger squads, like his previous team Gujarat Titans, but not with established players.
“The captaincy style of Hardik Pandya is quite bravado. It’s ego-driven in a way, chest out. I don’t think how he walks on the field is always genuine, but he has decided that is his way of captaincy,” said De Villiers.
“Almost like MS. Cool, calm, collective, always got your chest out. But when you play with a lot of experienced players, guys who have been around for ages… They don’t buy into that. It worked at GT, where it was a younger team. Sometimes, inexperienced players love to follow that kind of leadership,” he added.
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De Villiers also advised Hardik to seek tactical guidance from Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah, emphasizing the importance of humility over ego. He further clarified that his critique stems from a desire to see Hardik succeed.
“Now there’s a Rohit, there’s a Bumrah. They go like, all we need you to be is calm. Give us a bit of input on how to win matches. We don’t need the bravado. I’m not having a go at Hardik. I love watching him play. I love him putting out his chest because I was like that,” De Villiers concluded.
MI is set to face KKR in their next match, with nothing at stake but pride, at the Wankhede Stadium on May 11.
Last Updated on May 10, 2024
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