Cricket

Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen has acknowledged his shortcomings as a captain, following criticism from Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir had defended Hardik Pandya's captaincy, stating that those criticizing him had "woeful captaincy records" themselves.Pietersen, known for his candor, admitted to his failures as a captain, saying, "He's not wrong. I was a terrible captain!!!" This admission aligns with Gambhir's assertion that Pietersen and AB de Villiers, who had also expressed concerns about Pandya's leadership, had poor captaincy records.Gambhir emphasized the importance of comparing similar achievements, highlighting Pandya's success as an IPL-winning captain. He pointed out that Pietersen's captaincy record in the IPL was limited, with only two wins out of six matches as RCB captain in 2009 and a disappointing bottom finish for Delhi in 2014 under his leadership.Pietersen's response echoed Gambhir's sentiment, highlighting a rare moment of self-reflection from the former England skipper. He acknowledged that his captaincy style may not have been effective, stating that he was "happy when he is not" and "smiling too much" during his stint as Mumbai Indians' captain in the 2024 Indian Premier League.Despite the criticism, Gambhir defended Pandya's leadership, comparing his record to that of Pietersen and de Villiers. He argued that Pandya's success as an IPL-winning captain should be taken into account when evaluating his leadership abilities.

Gautam Gambhir Defends Hardik Pandya Amidst Leadership CriticismKolkata Knight Riders mentor Gautam Gambhir has come to the defense of Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya, who has faced criticism for his leadership skills. The five-time IPL champions have struggled under Pandya's captaincy, leading to criticism from former players like AB de Villiers and Kevin Pietersen.Gambhir dismissed the criticism, arguing that de Villiers and Pietersen have not achieved anything significant as leaders. "It's not important what experts are saying," Gambhir said. "My opinion has always been that you judge someone's captaincy by his team's performance."He emphasized that Pandya needs time to adjust to his new role. "Hardik Pandya has come from some other franchise so it takes time," Gambhir said. "Give him some time. Suddenly, you expect him to deliver at Mumbai, after captaining for two years at Gujarat."Gambhir also criticized de Villiers and Pietersen for their lack of leadership experience. "Those experts who have criticized him, they should see their own performances when they have captained a side," Gambhir said. "Whether it's AB de Villiers or Kevin Pietersen, I don't think in their career there is any performance of leadership, nothing."Despite Pandya's struggles, Gambhir believes he has the potential to be a successful captain. "He could have delivered, I am not saying he couldn't have," Gambhir said. "But if he hasn't, it's fine, give him a bit more time."Pandya has scored 200 runs and taken 11 wickets in 13 matches this season. Mumbai Indians are out of playoff contention with nine defeats in 13 matches. They will play their final game against Lucknow Super Giants on May 17.

Mumbai Indians' disastrous IPL 2024 campaign has reached a new low, with the five-time champions becoming the first team to be eliminated from playoff contention. Their dismal performance, with only 4 wins in 13 matches, has drawn widespread criticism from fans and experts alike.At the heart of the criticism lies all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who was appointed MI captain at the start of the season. Pandya's trade from Gujarat Titans ended Rohit Sharma's decade-long tenure as skipper, a decision that sparked controversy among some fans.As MI's struggles continued, rumors of a rift between Pandya and Sharma began to circulate. Pandya was booed by a section of the crowd at home matches, while former cricketers criticized Sharma for not publicly defending his captain.According to a report in Dainik Jagran, two factions have emerged within the Mumbai Indians dressing room, one supporting Pandya and the other backing Sharma. The report suggests that domestic players favor Sharma, while overseas stars align with Pandya.These divisions are believed to have contributed to MI's poor performance. Earlier reports indicated that senior players were unhappy with Pandya's captaincy, leading to a meeting between Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah to address the issue.South African legend AB De Villiers has also weighed in on MI's struggles. "MI have been very disappointing," he said. "I backed them to qualify for the knockout stages, but that will not happen. What has gone wrong? Last four seasons - 5th in 2021, 10th in 2022, 4th in 2023, and 9th."Sharma has remained diplomatic amidst the criticism, stating, "I have played under a lot of captains. It's nothing new. You do what you are required to do, and I have been doing that for the last one month."As MI's season draws to a close, the team faces an uncertain future. The divisions within the dressing room and the poor performances on the field raise questions about the team's direction and the leadership of Hardik Pandya.

Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya has faced intense scrutiny since the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. The decision to replace Rohit Sharma with Pandya as captain raised eyebrows among fans, and the team's poor performance has only intensified the pressure on the all-rounder.Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru and South Africa star AB de Villiers initially appeared to criticize Pandya's "bravado-style" captaincy. However, he has since clarified his remarks, expressing admiration for Pandya's leadership style.In a video posted on his YouTube channel, de Villiers stated, "I absolutely love the way Hardik Pandya plays his game. I love the way he captains." He acknowledged that Pandya's approach may not be suitable for all senior players, but he praised the all-rounder's determination and work ethic.De Villiers explained, "His style of captaincy is something that he has certainly worked on. It's not something that you can just walk out of the door and you are a brave captain." He added, "Sometimes, you have to put up a front and show the opposition that you are a force to reckon with. That's what Hardik Pandya does."Despite the challenges faced by Mumbai Indians this season, de Villiers believes in Pandya's leadership abilities. He said, "I love Hardik Pandya, that's what I said. To you reporters out there, I am sorry to burst your bubble."Pandya's captaincy has been a topic of debate throughout the IPL season. Some critics have questioned his decision-making and communication skills, while others have praised his aggressive approach and ability to motivate his team.As Mumbai Indians continue their campaign, it remains to be seen whether Pandya can turn the team's fortunes around and prove his critics wrong. However, de Villiers' endorsement of his leadership style suggests that the all-rounder has the potential to succeed as a captain in the future.

The Mumbai Indians (MI) franchise has been plagued by internal turmoil during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season, with the captaincy change from Rohit Sharma to Hardik Pandya creating significant rifts within the team.Reports have emerged that Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya are not even practicing together in the middle. A recent incident witnessed Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tilak Varma leaving the nets as Hardik Pandya arrived to bat.According to Dainik Jagaran, Hardik and Rohit have rarely practiced together this season. Before the match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Rohit was seen batting first, while Hardik was absent. As Rohit sat on the sidelines with Suryakumar and Tilak, Hardik came out to bat. Upon seeing the skipper, all three players reportedly got up and moved to the other side of the ground.The tension between Rohit and Hardik was further fueled by Rohit's conversation with KKR's assistant coach, Abhishek Nayar, before the match. Rohit was overheard discussing the changes that had occurred at MI since Hardik took over as captain. He also hinted that this could be his last season with the franchise.With the IPL set to undergo a mega auction next season, it is unlikely that Rohit will be retained by MI. The franchise has invested in Hardik as their future captain. However, Rohit, who is still keen on playing for a few more seasons, may find opportunities with other IPL teams.The internal strife within the MI camp has had a detrimental impact on the team's performance. The once-dominant franchise has struggled to find consistency and has lost several matches. The captaincy change has created a divide between the players, and the team's morale appears to be low.

Mumbai Indians' IPL 2024 campaign has come to an abrupt end, making them the first team to be eliminated from the tournament. The Hardik Pandya-led side has struggled throughout the season, with a lack of consistency and a series of setbacks.Before the tournament began, the Mumbai Indians camp was already facing turmoil with the removal of Rohit Sharma as captain. The team's performance has not improved since then, with the side failing to find a winning formula.Adding to the team's woes, four of its key players - Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah - are currently representing India in the 2024 T20 World Cup. This has further depleted the Mumbai Indians' squad and made it difficult for them to compete.According to reports, the Mumbai Indians camp was expected to settle down over time, but this has not been the case. Sources have claimed that skipper Rohit Sharma and some BCCI selectors, including Ajit Agarkar, were not in favor of Hardik Pandya's inclusion in the 15-member T20 World Cup squad.Pandya's performance in the IPL 2024 has been inconsistent. In 13 games, he has scored 200 runs at a strike rate of 144.93 and taken 11 wickets at an economy of 10.59. However, most of his good bowling performances have come in the latter half of the tournament.The report also suggests that Pandya's selection for the T20 World Cup was made "under pressure." It further claims that Rohit Sharma may consider retiring from the T20 format after the World Cup.When Rohit Sharma and Ajit Agarkar were asked about Hardik Pandya's inclusion in the T20 World Cup squad despite his poor form, Agarkar explained that the selection committee had no choice as there was no suitable replacement available.The Mumbai Indians' elimination from the IPL 2024 is a major disappointment for the team and its fans. The side will now have to regroup and rebuild for the next season.

Mumbai Indians' Dismal IPL Performance Raises Concerns for Team India Ahead of T20 World CupMumbai Indians' disastrous IPL season under new captain Hardik Pandya has cast a shadow over Team India's preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup. With nine losses in 13 games, MI are out of playoff contention and face the ignominy of finishing last on the points table.Amidst the team's struggles, the poor form of two key Indian stars, Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya, has emerged as a major concern. Rohit, the Indian captain, has managed only 349 runs in 13 IPL games at an average of just over 29. Hardik, the vice-captain, has fared even worse with just 200 runs.This lack of form is particularly worrying for Team India, who will rely heavily on Rohit and Hardik in the T20 World Cup. Rohit is the team's leading batsman, while Hardik is a crucial all-rounder who provides both batting and bowling options.Cricket expert and commentator Harsha Bhogle has expressed concern over the duo's struggles, stating that head coach Rahul Dravid's immediate task is to get them back in good shape. "With both Team India captain Rohit and vice-captain Hardik struggling, a worried cricket expert and commentator Harsha Bhogle opined that head coach Rahul Dravid’s task at hand right now would be getting the two back in good shape," Bhogle tweeted.However, there is some good news for Team India. Other Indian stars in the MI lineup, such as Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah, have performed well in the IPL. Yadav has scored 303 runs in 13 games, while Bumrah has taken 12 wickets.The T20 World Cup begins on June 1, with India taking on Ireland in their opening match on June 5. Team India will be hoping that Rohit and Hardik can rediscover their form before the tournament and lead the team to success.

Hardik Pandya's Disappointing IPL Season: A Failure of Leadership or Fan Resentment?Hardik Pandya's tenure as captain of the Mumbai Indians (MI) has been marred by disappointment and criticism. The five-time IPL champions have been eliminated from the playoffs race, and Pandya has faced the brunt of the backlash.Pandya's move from the Gujarat Titans to MI was met with mixed reactions. Some fans welcomed the change, while others questioned the decision to replace Rohit Sharma as captain. The team's poor performance has only intensified the negative sentiment towards Pandya.The all-rounder has been booed by fans at the Wankhede Stadium and has come under fire for his poor form with both bat and ball. Former Australian cricketer Aaron Finch believes that Rohit Sharma should have publicly supported Pandya during this difficult time."I would have loved to have seen Rohit come out and say something publicly. Say 'No, this is part of the plan for Mumbai Indians, and Hardik's got my full support,'" Finch said. "Just think that would have put things to be a lot more quickly."Mumbai Indians have won only four of their 13 matches in IPL 2024. The team's struggles have raised questions about Pandya's leadership abilities and the team's overall strategy.Some fans believe that Pandya is not the right captain for MI. They argue that he lacks the experience and charisma to lead a team of such stature. Others believe that the team's poor performance is not solely Pandya's fault and that the entire squad needs to take responsibility.The future of Pandya's captaincy is uncertain. If MI continues to struggle, it is possible that he will be replaced. However, if the team can turn things around, Pandya could prove to be a valuable asset for the franchise.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has witnessed significant captaincy changes this season, with two of its most successful teams, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI), entrusting new leaders. MS Dhoni, the legendary CSK captain, has passed the baton to Ruturaj Gaikwad, while Hardik Pandya has taken over the reins at MI, succeeding Rohit Sharma.CSK's leadership transition has been seamless, with minimal disruption to the established hierarchy. In contrast, MI has faced considerable backlash following their unexpected setback, becoming the first team to be eliminated from the playoffs race.Reflecting on his new role, Gaikwad has emphasized Dhoni's supportive stance while allowing him autonomy in decision-making. "Last year, I was thinking about what changes I would make if I were captain," Gaikwad said. "I'm happy that I took control of the first game and didn't ask for suggestions from Dhoni."Dhoni has given Gaikwad full responsibility, offering guidance only when necessary. "He said, 'Whatever you do, it's your decision and responsibility. I won't interfere. I'll help with field angles if needed, but you'll have to take care of the batting order and everything else,'" Gaikwad revealed.As CSK aims to secure a playoff berth, Gaikwad's leadership faces a crucial test against Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Sunday. RR, currently second in the standings, will be looking to bounce back from successive defeats and consolidate their playoff entry under Sanju Samson's leadership.