Cricket

Rohit Sharma, the revered Indian cricket captain, has opened up about his recent experiences after relinquishing the captaincy of the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The transition saw Hardik Pandya take over the reins, with Rohit serving as his deputy for the upcoming T20 World Cup.Rohit's removal as MI captain came as a surprise to many, and his vast fanbase expressed their disappointment by booing Hardik in the initial matches of the IPL season. However, Rohit has maintained a composed demeanor, acknowledging that "not everything goes your way.""It is part of life. It has been a great experience," Rohit said, reflecting on his time playing under Pandya. He emphasized that the transition was no different from playing under any other captain, having previously played under the likes of MS Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, and Virat Kohli for India.Despite criticism surrounding his batting performance in recent seasons, Rohit has showcased a remarkable turnaround in form in the ongoing IPL edition. He has scored 314 runs in 10 innings, demonstrating his resilience and determination."I have only tried to do what is required from me as a player," Rohit said, downplaying the significance of his recent success.The dynamics between Rohit and Hardik have been the subject of much speculation, with some suggesting that the leadership transition was not handled optimally. However, Rohit has remained diplomatic, stating that he has no issues playing under Pandya."I have played under a lot of captains. It is no different or new to me," he said.Rohit's experience as a player under Pandya will provide valuable insights as he prepares to lead India in the T20 World Cup. The tournament will be a crucial test for both Rohit and Hardik, as they aim to guide India to glory on the global stage.

Hardik Pandya's inclusion in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup 2024 has sparked controversy, with former all-rounder Irfan Pathan questioning the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) decision. Despite poor form in the IPL 2024, Pandya was not only selected for the 15-man squad but also named vice-captain.Pathan criticized the BCCI for making exceptions for Pandya, who has been absent from domestic cricket. He pointed out that players like Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan were forced to prove themselves in domestic cricket before being recalled to the Indian team."Regular participation in domestic cricket is essential for serving Indian cricket throughout the year," Pathan said. "But there's this one player who returns from injury without fulfilling the same requirements."Pathan also questioned Pandya's performance consistency and commitment to Indian cricket. He suggested that Jasprit Bumrah would have been a better choice for the vice-captaincy role."To succeed in tournaments like the World Cup, it's imperative that every player is treated fairly and equally," Pathan said. "I believe someone like Bumrah wouldn't have been a bad choice either."Pathan's comments highlight the ongoing debate over Pandya's place in the Indian team. While some believe he is a valuable all-rounder, others question his form and commitment. The BCCI's decision to select him for the T20 World Cup 2024 is likely to be a topic of discussion in the coming months.

Hardik Pandya's disappointing IPL 2024 campaign has raised concerns among fans and experts alike. After a sensational trade from Gujarat Titans, Pandya took over the captaincy of Mumbai Indians, ending Rohit Sharma's decade-long tenure. However, the move has not been well-received by a section of the fanbase, and MI's poor performance has only exacerbated the situation.With just three wins in 10 matches, MI has struggled to find their footing in IPL 2024. Pandya's own form has been a major concern, with the all-rounder failing to live up to expectations both as a player and captain. The home crowd at the Wankhede Stadium has even booed Pandya, a sign of the growing frustration among MI supporters.Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali believes that MI's downfall is primarily due to a mindset issue. He also criticized Pandya's performance, suggesting that it has been affected by the BCCI's decision to retain Rohit Sharma as T20I captain after the Cricket World Cup 2023."The way Pandya was made captain before the start of the season, plus Pandya's performance, has also not been up to the mark this year. These factors have contributed to MI's downfall," Ali said.Ali believes that Pandya was expecting to become the T20 captain of India after the World Cup, and his performance has suffered since losing out on the captaincy. "After the culmination of the 50-over World Cup, Pandya thought he would be the T20 captain of India, and that is why he came to Mumbai. But when BCCI announced that Rohit Sharma will continue leading India, Pandya was probably confused. This is why his performance was affected," Ali concluded.With MI's playoff hopes hanging by a thread, Pandya and his team face an uphill battle. They need to win all of their remaining matches and depend on other results to qualify for the playoffs.

Former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer has expressed his disappointment over the relentless trolling of all-rounder Hardik Pandya by fans amidst his poor performances in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). Jaffer believes that Pandya will prove his worth in the upcoming T20 World Cup, silencing his critics.Despite being named captain of the Mumbai Indians (MI), Pandya has endured a disappointing season, failing to deliver with the bat, ball, and as a leader. MI has suffered seven losses in 10 games, including a recent four-wicket defeat to the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Pandya's struggles have drawn criticism from fans, particularly on social media.Jaffer, however, has defended Pandya, emphasizing his crucial contributions to the Indian team in white-ball cricket. He cited Pandya's match-winning performances in the T20 World Cup 2022, including his 40 runs against Pakistan and his century partnership with Virat Kohli. Pandya's hard-hitting half-century against England in the semifinals and his two wickets in the final over against Bangladesh in the 2016 T20 World Cup are also testament to his ability to perform under pressure.Jaffer believes that the same fans who are now trolling Pandya will be singing his praises once he delivers in the T20 World Cup, which will be held in the West Indies and USA from June 1. India's squad for the tournament includes Pandya as Rohit Sharma's deputy.The BCCI has announced a 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup, with Rohit Sharma leading the team and Hardik Pandya serving as vice-captain. India is placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, Ireland, Canada, and co-hosts USA. Their campaign begins on June 5 against Ireland before they face Pakistan on June 9 in a highly anticipated match.

Mumbai Indians' IPL 2024 campaign has hit rock bottom after their seventh loss in 10 games, effectively ending their playoff hopes. The five-time champions have been plagued by a series of issues, including a captaincy change and a string of poor performances.The decision to replace Rohit Sharma with Hardik Pandya as captain has been met with mixed reactions. While some believe that Pandya's aggressive style could revitalize the team, others have questioned his leadership abilities. The team's performance on the field has also been disappointing, with the batters failing to put up competitive totals and the bowlers struggling to contain the opposition.In their latest defeat, Mumbai Indians managed a paltry 144/7 in 20 overs against Lucknow Super Giants. Captain Hardik Pandya was dismissed for a duck, while Rohit Sharma scored just 4 runs. LSG chased down the target with ease, winning by four wickets with 19.2 overs to spare.Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan has blamed Hardik Pandya for Mumbai Indians' poor performance. "The team that qualified last year didn't have Jasprit Bumrah, but this season they had his services. Still, they are in this situation. Purely because the team wasn't managed well on the ground. Too many mistakes by their captain Hardik Pandya," Pathan wrote on social media.However, former India cricketer Deep Dasgupta believes that Pandya's poor form in the IPL will not affect his selection for the T20 World Cup squad. "I don't think so. I mean, obviously, the IPL is a very important tournament, but you've to also keep in mind about the credit they have achieved in the past, how they've done in the past, and I think Hardik has done alright," Dasgupta said."We've seen him bat down the order, and that's where he will be expected to bat. He's played a couple of good innings; he's bowled alright. I'm not going to be too worried with what he's done so far in the IPL. I think he's a match winner both with the bat and at times with the ball as well."

Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya has been slapped with a hefty fine of Rs 24 lakh for his team's second slow over-rate offense in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The incident occurred during their match against Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Stadium on Tuesday, April 30.According to the IPL's Code of Conduct, Pandya was fined INR 24 Lac as it was his team's second offense of the season. The rest of the Playing XI, including the Impact Player, were each individually fined either INR 6 Lac or 25 per cent of their respective match fees, whichever was lesser.The match itself saw Mumbai Indians struggle to post a competitive total, managing only 144 for seven. Nehal Wadhera (46), Ishan Kishan (32), and Tim David (35 not out) were the only notable contributors.In reply, Lucknow Super Giants chased down the target with four balls to spare, thanks to a 45-ball 62 from Marcus Stoinis. The Australian all-rounder hit seven fours and two sixes in his innings.With this victory, Lucknow Super Giants climbed to the third spot in the IPL standings with six wins in 10 games. Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, slumped to their seventh loss in 10 games, leaving them languishing near the bottom of the table.

Mumbai Indians' dismal performance in the ongoing IPL 2024 continued on Tuesday as they suffered their seventh defeat, their third consecutive loss, against KL Rahul's Lucknow Super Giants. The five-time champions' hopes of reaching the top four have been severely dented, as they now languish in ninth place with just 6 points.The loss has drawn criticism from former India cricketer Irfan Pathan, who has pointed the finger at captain Hardik Pandya. Pathan took to social media to express his frustration, stating that Pandya's "too many mistakes" have cost the team dearly."The team Mumbai Indians that qualified last year didn’t had Jasprit Bumrah but this season they had his services. Still they are in this situation. Purely because the team wasn’t managed well on the ground. Too many mistakes by their captain Hardik Pandya. It’s the truth," Pathan posted.Pandya, who took over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma this season, has faced intense scrutiny due to Mumbai Indians' troubled campaign. He has been met with boos at several IPL 2024 venues, including Wankhede Stadium, the Mumbai Indians' home ground.His performance with both bat and ball has been underwhelming this season. On Tuesday against LSG, Pandya was dismissed for a golden duck. In 10 matches, he has managed to score just 197 runs at an average of 21.88 and has taken only 6 wickets.Pandya's struggles have been compounded by the team's overall poor performance. Mumbai Indians have been plagued by injuries and inconsistent form, and they have failed to find a winning combination.The loss to Lucknow Super Giants has left Mumbai Indians with an uphill task to qualify for the playoffs. They will need to win their remaining matches and hope that other results go their way. However, with their current form, it seems unlikely that they will be able to turn their season around.

Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has expressed confidence in Hardik Pandya's ability to excel for the national team in the upcoming T20 World Cup, despite his underwhelming performance for Mumbai Indians in the ongoing IPL.Gavaskar believes that Pandya's performance for India will be significantly different from his IPL form, as playing for the country brings out a different level of motivation and determination in players. He noted that Pandya has faced challenges in the IPL but has handled them well, and expects him to be in a more positive frame of mind when representing India.Gavaskar also praised the overall strength of the Indian team, stating that they are title contenders for the World Cup. He emphasized the importance of luck in international tournaments, but expressed confidence that India has the potential to bring the trophy back home for the first time since 2007.The former India skipper highlighted the benefits of the IPL in preparing players for the World Cup, as it provides them with ample match practice and allows them to maintain their rhythm. He believes that the team will be well-conditioned and refreshed after a brief break between the IPL and the World Cup.Gavaskar's comments come as India prepares to kick off their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland in New York on June 5. Pandya has been retained as vice-captain of the 15-member squad, despite his modest IPL performance.

Ahead of the highly anticipated selection of the Indian squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, the Board of Control for Cricket India (BCCI) is reportedly engaged in discussions regarding the inclusion of star all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Sources within the BCCI have indicated that Pandya's current form in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is a subject of debate.As captain of the Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 2024, Pandya has overseen a disappointing campaign for his team. MI currently languishes in the bottom half of the table, with only three wins in nine matches. Pandya's individual performances have also been underwhelming, with the all-rounder scoring just 197 runs in nine games at an average of 24.62 and a strike rate of over 151. His highest score is 46.In addition to his batting struggles, Pandya has also been limited in his bowling output. He has bowled only 19 overs in the tournament, taking four wickets at an average of 56.75 and an economy rate of 11.94.The BCCI sources have also hinted that the upcoming T20 World Cup could potentially mark the final international T20I appearances for veteran players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Both players returned to the T20I set-up in January this year against Afghanistan, but their previous outing was the 10-wicket loss to England in the semifinals of the 2022 T20 WC in Australia.Following that disappointing result, Team India has experimented with younger players such as Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma, Rahul Tripathi, Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top of the order in the shorter format.Rohit and Kohli are two of India's most accomplished T20I batters. Kohli is the highest run-getter in T20I cricket, with 4,037 runs in 117 matches at an average of 51.75 and a strike rate of over 138. Rohit is the second-highest run-scorer in the format, with 3,974 runs at an average of over 31 and a strike rate of almost 140.The presence of both Rohit and Kohli in the team could potentially limit opportunities for promising young stars, who may find themselves in reserve roles rather than the playing eleven.