Cricket

Mumbai Indians' decision to replace Rohit Sharma with Hardik Pandya as captain ahead of IPL 2024 proved disastrous, with fans expressing their disapproval through booing and the team losing its first three matches. However, the franchise managed to salvage some pride by winning two consecutive matches before succumbing to Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede.Rohit Sharma, who led Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles during his tenure as captain, recently shared his insights on the team's journey in a podcast with Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan. He emphasized the importance of adapting to the unique conditions of the Wankhede Stadium and working closely with overseas and domestic players to create a cohesive unit."In 2013, when I took over, we had Malinga, Mitchell Johnson, and Bumrah in the squad. We had to work around their strengths and weaknesses. For example, Mitchell Johnson likes to bang it hard on the deck, but I knew that wouldn't work at Wankhede. We had to convince him to pitch it slightly fuller and get the ball to swing," Rohit explained.He also highlighted the importance of communication and collaboration with the support staff, including Ricky Ponting, Mahela Jayawardene, and Mark Boucher. "It's not just one person's job to make it through. I needed the support of my support staff to make sure that we align to the same thought process," Rohit said.Rohit Sharma is set to become the second player after MS Dhoni to play 250 IPL games when Mumbai Indians face Punjab Kings on Thursday. His experience and leadership will be crucial as the team looks to turn its fortunes around in the remaining matches of the season.

The Mumbai Indians' (MI) captaincy saga has sparked intense debate among fans and pundits alike. After a decade-long reign, Rohit Sharma relinquished the captaincy to Hardik Pandya, a move that has drawn mixed reactions.Despite Pandya's impressive leadership at Gujarat Titans, MI's dismal start to IPL 2024 has raised concerns. Three consecutive defeats and Pandya's public booing at the Wankhede Stadium have cast a shadow over the team's prospects.However, Australian legend Brett Lee remains optimistic about MI's chances. He believes the team's slow starts are a recurring pattern and that both Pandya and Sharma enjoy strong support from their teammates."Based on my observations, it's evident that both Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya have garnered strong backing from their teammates in the IPL," Lee told Times of India. "Delving into the history of the Mumbai Indians, it's notable that they often start off matches at a measured pace, gradually building momentum."Lee emphasized that the team's success hinges on the rhythm of its key players. "However, once either Rohit or Hardik finds their rhythm, their performances tend to escalate rapidly, driving the team towards success," he said.Lee also dismissed concerns about the captaincy, stating that both Pandya and Sharma possess the leadership qualities to inspire their teammates. "Consequently, I find myself reassured, regardless of whether it's Rohit or Hardik, or anyone else leading the charge for the team, as both possess the capability to inspire and elevate their teammates to greater heights," he added.MI's recent defeat to CSK has added pressure on the team. They will face a crucial test against Punjab Kings on Thursday, where they will aim to bounce back and regain their winning ways.

India's T20 World Cup Squad Selection: Hardik Pandya's Bowling Form Under ScrutinyIn a crucial meeting held in Mumbai, India captain Rohit Sharma, head coach Rahul Dravid, and chief selector Ajit Agarkar discussed the composition of the squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The primary focus was on the selection of fast bowling all-rounders, a position that has posed a challenge for the selectors.Hardik Pandya's inclusion in the team was a key topic of discussion. The trio decided that Pandya's regular bowling performance in the ongoing IPL 2024 season will be a determining factor in his selection. Pandya, who is leading the Mumbai Indians this season, has struggled with his bowling form, taking only three wickets in 11 overs and conceding runs at an alarming economy rate of 12 per over.The Indian team management hopes that Pandya can regain his bowling rhythm, as his seam bowling provides balance to the playing XI and his powerful hitting adds depth to the batting lineup.Another player under consideration is Shivam Dube, who has impressed with the bat but has been limited to the role of an Impact Player by his franchise, Chennai Super Kings. The selectors are closely monitoring his performances, as he could be a potential option as a fast bowling all-rounder.The Indian selection committee is expected to meet later this month to finalize the squad for the T20 World Cup. The performance of the hopefuls in the ongoing IPL will play a significant role in their decision-making process.

Former all-rounder Irfan Pathan has raised concerns about Hardik Pandya's leadership abilities as captain of the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). Pathan believes that Pandya's inability to adapt to match situations and lack of a clear plan have contributed to MI's poor performance so far."Hardik needs to manage MI really well. Whenever MI lost, Pandya had a big role to play," Pathan said. "He needs to be aware of the situation and have a Plan A and Plan B. He is not a newbie, he has been playing for so many years. If he is not going to use his own experience and be smart about it, he will be found out."Pathan also questioned Pandya's decision-making during MI's recent loss to the Rajasthan Royals. "Even yesterday, Akash Madhwal didn't bowl the last over, you need to give responsibility to him. When Shreyas Gopal got the wicket of Rachin Ravindra, why didn't you give him another over? He only bowled one over... there was some slowness in the pitch and you need to adapt quickly, unfortunately, Pandya has not been able to adapt so far."Pathan acknowledged that Pandya had a successful run as captain of the Gujarat Titans under coach Ashish Nehra, but he emphasized that the MI support staff is also trying to help Pandya. "They are trying to help, it is up to Hardik Pandya," Pathan said.Pathan also expressed his disappointment over the possibility of Shivam Dube not being selected for the T20 World Cup. "Eventually there will be a time when Shivam Dube will put pressure on Pandya, the kind of hitting ability that Dube has, the way he has murdered the spinners, no one comes closer to him in Indian batting in the middle order, he is the best now," Pathan said. "I will be highly disappointed if he doesn't go to the World Cup."Regarding India's bowling line-up for the World Cup, Pathan emphasized the need for a gun left-arm pacer and a wrist spinner. "I want selectors to have an in-form bowling line-up, you will have (Jasprit) Bumrah, probably a left-arm spinner in Jadeja or Axar Patel, a good wrist spinner, who will be wicket-taker in the middle overs. Get a gun left-armer who is in form, which we missed so many years now. If Arshdeep Singh can bowl like he is doing but also keep an eye on Mohsin Khan."Pathan also discussed the impact rule in the IPL, expressing concerns about its long-term effects on Indian cricket. "This rule is not that great for Indian cricket in the long term, see Venkatesh Iyer, Shivam Dube is not bowling, lots of all-rounders are not able to bowl. You want the youngsters to be part of the game," he said. "I am really worried about the allrounder, eventually going forward we will have to think about this aspect."

Mumbai Indians' recent 20-run defeat against Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 has raised concerns about Hardik Pandya's place in India's T20 World Cup squad. Pandya, who has been struggling with both bat and ball, has come under fire from former cricketers and fans alike.Former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad took to social media to express his doubts about Pandya's inclusion in the World Cup team. "I hope and pray that the best 15 T20 players in India are on the plane for the T20 World Cup. We can win the tournament with the talent we have, but it's important to pick the best," Prasad tweeted.Pandya's all-round abilities have made him a mainstay in India's white-ball teams, but his recent form has been a cause for concern. Former New Zealand bowler Simon Doull suggested that Pandya should not be picked for the World Cup squad if he cannot consistently bowl.After the defeat against Chennai Super Kings, Pandya admitted that the target was gettable but Mumbai Indians failed to find a solid partnership in the middle order. "The target was definitely gettable, but they bowled pretty well. Pathirana was the difference. They were smart with their plans and approach," Pandya said.Pandya's struggles have coincided with Mumbai Indians' poor start to the IPL season. The team has lost three of its first four matches and is currently languishing at the bottom of the points table.With the T20 World Cup just months away, the pressure is mounting on Pandya to rediscover his form. If he fails to do so, he could find himself out of the Indian team for the tournament.

Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya has attributed the team's defeat in the IPL's "El Clasico" against Chennai Super Kings to the impact of Matheesha Pathirana. The high-scoring encounter at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday saw CSK emerge victorious by 20 runs.After a blistering start by Mumbai's opening duo of Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan, Pathirana's introduction in the eighth over proved pivotal. He dismissed Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav in quick succession, breaking the 70-run partnership."Definitely it was gettable. But I think they bowled pretty well, Pathirana was the difference. He came and got the wickets, at the same time they were also quite smart with their approach. They used the longer boundary well," Pandya said after the match.Pathirana's wickets set Mumbai back, forcing them to chase the game. CSK's bowlers, including Shardul Thakur and Mustafizur Rahman, exploited the conditions with variations. Thakur, despite conceding 33 runs in his first three overs, came back strongly to concede just two runs in his final over.Tushar Deshpande's dismissal of Pandya further tightened the equation for Mumbai. "They were smart with the plans and their approach. They got the hang of it, there's a man behind the stumps (Dhoni) who tells them what's working, that helps. It (pitch) was holding up a bit and getting difficult," Pandya added.Earlier, CSK had posted a formidable 206/4, thanks to Shivam Dube's unbeaten 66 and Ruturaj Gaikwad's 69. MS Dhoni's late cameo provided the finishing touches.In reply, Rohit Sharma's unbeaten 105 was not enough to guide Mumbai to victory. The defeat leaves Mumbai with a 1-2 record in the IPL, while CSK improves to 2-1.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan found himself the subject of hilarious trolling during a live podcast featuring Australian cricket legends Brett Lee and Adam Gilchrist. The incident, which has gone viral on social media, occurred when Vaughan's wife, Nichola, inadvertently turned on a printer near the recording area."Mrs. Vaughan has clearly decided to start to print something," Vaughan remarked during the podcast. The comment sparked a flurry of speculation among listeners, with one user quipping, "Divorce papers." The remark sent the chatroom into a frenzy of laughter.The incident has become a viral sensation, with many sharing the clip on Twitter. One user commented, "This has to go down as an ALL TIME moment on the show."Beyond the lighthearted banter, Vaughan also shared his thoughts on the recent captaincy change at Mumbai Indians. Five-time IPL champion Rohit Sharma was replaced by Hardik Pandya, a move that has drawn mixed reactions from fans."Hardik's going through a difficult time, and it's not his fault," Vaughan said on the BeerBiceps podcast. "He has been asked to captain Mumbai Indians; who is going to say no to that? He has been given a job that every single Indian cricketer would like to do."However, Vaughan believes the communication surrounding the captaincy change could have been handled better. "I personally would've captained Rohit," he said. "Hardik coming back to MI is big enough pressure in itself, and Rohit is obviously going to be the Indian T20 captain. The sensible move would've been for Rohit to carry as MI captain with Hardik in mind for next year or 2."Hardik's start as MI captain has been challenging, with the team losing their first three games. However, they have since rebounded with two consecutive victories.

Hardik Pandya's post-match comments following Mumbai Indians' defeat to Chennai Super Kings have sparked discussions about the team's dynamics and support system. Pandya's praise for MS Dhoni's guidance from behind the stumps has raised questions about his own perceived isolation within the team.Former Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist interpreted Pandya's remarks as indicative of a feeling of loneliness. He noted that Pandya's emphasis on Dhoni's support suggests a lack of similar support from his own teammates. Gilchrist also pointed out Pandya's omission of Mumbai Indians captain Ruturaj Gaikwad in his praise, indicating a potential rift between the two.Simon Doull echoed Gilchrist's interpretation, highlighting a shift in the team's dynamics. He suggested that Pandya's attempts to establish his authority may be met with resistance from some teammates, including former captain Rohit Sharma. Doull noted the contrast between Dhoni's guidance to Gaikwad and Sharma's perceived discontent.The match itself saw a stellar performance from Matheesha Pathirana, who claimed four wickets for CSK. Despite Rohit Sharma's unbeaten century, Mumbai Indians fell short by 20 runs in their chase of CSK's 206/4. Shivam Dube and Ruturaj Gaikwad played key roles in setting up the challenging target for CSK.Pandya's comments have brought to light underlying issues within the Mumbai Indians camp. The team's dynamics and support system will be under scrutiny as they navigate the remainder of the IPL season.

Mumbai Indians' Pollard Defends Hardik Pandya Amidst CriticismMumbai Indians' batting coach and former all-rounder Kieron Pollard has staunchly defended Hardik Pandya following the team's IPL match against Chennai Super Kings. Pandya faced significant scrutiny for his performance, but Pollard rallied behind his teammate, emphasizing the importance of team unity and support."I am sick and fed up looking to pinpoint individuals; cricket is a team game at the end of the day," Pollard stated after the match. He expressed confidence in Pandya's abilities and highlighted his crucial role in the upcoming T20 World Cup for India.Pollard acknowledged Pandya's recent struggles and the public's expectations, but stressed the importance of evolution in a player's career. "As an individual you have to evolve," he remarked. "The older you get, accountability and responsibility kick in."Despite Pandya's recent challenges, Pollard remains optimistic about his future contributions, citing his hard work and commitment to improvement. "What I am seeing is the guy is evolving. We, as individuals, want to see certain things but sometimes the game does not demand certain things," Pollard noted.Looking ahead to the T20 World Cup, Pollard anticipates a shift in public sentiment towards Pandya. "I hope very well deep down within my heart that when he comes out on top, I'll sit back and watch everyone sing his praises," he said.Pollard's defense of Pandya underscores the importance of team unity and support, especially in the face of adversity. It also highlights the need for patience and understanding as players navigate the challenges of their careers.