Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh expressed his views on Mumbai Indians’ decision to appoint all-rounder Hardik Pandya as captain, a move that didn’t pan out well for the franchise. The ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season turned out to be forgettable for the five-time champions, Mumbai Indians. Pandya, returning after a two-year stint with Gujarat Titans (GT), faced immense social media backlash for replacing Rohit Sharma as captain. This decision didn’t resonate with fans, leading to a tumultuous season for both Pandya and the team. Mumbai Indians finished at the bottom of the points table with four wins, 10 losses, and eight points, a disappointing outcome considering their track record.
Harbhajan Singh, speaking to ANI, shared his perspective on Mumbai Indians’ choice to bring back Pandya. He believed that the decision resulted in a lack of cohesion within the team. According to him, perhaps this decision could have been deferred for a year. However, he was clear that the responsibility didn’t solely lie with Hardik Pandya.
“Mumbai Indians is a prestigious team, and I’ve been part of it. The management is usually astute, but this time the decision misfired. It appeared to disrupt the team’s unity. It’s saddening to witness such a decline for a team I hold dear. Maybe the timing wasn’t right; delaying the decision could have yielded better results. It’s not Hardik’s fault; he displayed commendable leadership with Gujarat Titans. Senior players have a duty to maintain unity irrespective of the captain. Captains may change, but team spirit shouldn’t waver. Unfortunately, they didn’t function cohesively as a unit,” remarked Harbhajan to ANI.
During the season, Pandya’s performance wasn’t up to his usual standards. In 14 matches, he scored 216 runs at an average of 18.00 and a strike rate of 143.04. With the ball, he managed to take 11 wickets but at a high average of 35.18 and an economy rate of 10.75.
Despite his IPL struggles, expectations remain high for Pandya, especially in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup. As vice-captain of the Indian team, Pandya’s prowess in white-ball cricket and ability to shine under pressure make him a vital asset. Led by Rohit Sharma, Team India will commence their T20 World Cup journey in Group A alongside rivals Pakistan, Ireland, Canada, and hosts USA.
India’s campaign kicks off against Ireland on June 5 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York, followed by a highly anticipated clash against Pakistan on June 9 at the same venue. Subsequent matches against USA and Canada are scheduled for June 12 and 15, respectively.
India’s squad for the ICC T20 World Cup comprises Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohd. Siraj.
