(AFP Photo)
Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh discussed Hardik Pandya’s underwhelming performance during the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Mumbai Indians. Singh acknowledged that Pandya appeared constrained in recent months but optimistically remarked that he expects a transformation once Pandya dons the Indian jersey.
Over the past couple of months, Hardik Pandya has faced one of the most challenging phases in his career. Taking the helm for the Mumbai Indians in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL), Pandya struggled both as a leader and a performer, with lackluster displays with bat and ball marking his tournament.
Assuming captaincy from Rohit Sharma ahead of the IPL 2024, Pandya encountered a lukewarm reception from fans, often greeted with boos during matches. His leadership came under scrutiny for what many deemed as amateurish errors, drawing criticism from pundits as well.
Despite being handed the captain’s armband, Pandya failed to fully win over the fans, who continued to rally behind Rohit Sharma. Reports even surfaced of lingering loyalty to Sharma among certain Mumbai Indians players, indicating a divided locker room. Senior players reportedly disapproved of Pandya’s leadership style during the tournament.
Harbhajan Singh acknowledged Pandya’s tumultuous IPL 2024 campaign but expressed confidence in his ability to rebound for the T20 World Cup 2024. Singh emphasized the pivotal role of all-rounders in shaping India’s prospects in the upcoming tournament, highlighting the potential impact of Pandya hitting top form.
The ex-Indian cricketer further noted that Hardik Pandya’s performance will be a point of focus as the team enters the upcoming tournament. He went on to highlight that during the IPL 2024, the Mumbai Indians lacked cohesion as a unit. However, he expressed optimism that both Pandya and Rohit Sharma will step up for the national team. In a conversation with PTI, he elaborated:
“When he wears that blue jersey, he will be a different Hardik Pandya because we know he can score those runs and take those wickets. I want Hardik to come good as he has gone through a lot and I wish him all the very best to have a very good tournament for India. If he has a good tournament, obviously India will have a great chance to go forward.
“Yes, his form is a bit of a concern…and a lot of other stuff was going on around him, his shifting from Gujarat to Mumbai, was a big change and the team (MI) didn’t react too well to Hardik coming back and that too as captain. It looked like they (MI) were not playing together as a team. So a lot was going on. Hardik wasn’t a free man in the last two months. I believe both of them and many others who have played in different teams will have to come together to do something special for the nation.”
Harbhajan Singh advocates for the management to unify all members of the team.
Harbhajan Singh emphasized the significance of clinching the World Cup as a monumental achievement. Additionally, he urged the team management to foster unity among all players. He further remarked:
“Winning a World Cup is a bigger achievement than winning an IPL trophy, so I would urge the management to bring everyone together, have them on one page and make sure they play like one.
“I believe it’s the responsibility of the management to come together and win together. Even if they lose they should be losing together,” he concluded
