Cricket

Mumbai Indians' Fielding Dynamics Shift as Rohit Sharma Takes ChargeIn a surprising turn of events, former Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma was seen directing fielding instructions to current skipper Hardik Pandya during their IPL 2024 clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad. This shift in dynamics comes just days after a video emerged showing Pandya instructing Sharma to field in the deep.The pressure was mounting on the five-time champions as Sunrisers Hyderabad unleashed a relentless onslaught, smashing a record-breaking total of 277 for 3, the highest-ever in IPL history. This incredible feat surpassed the 11-year-old record held by Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who scored 263/5 in 20 overs against Pune Warriors India in 2013.Despite the efforts of Pandya and Sharma to orchestrate fielding changes, Sunrisers' batsmen sent the ball soaring into the stands, hitting a total of 18 sixes and 19 boundaries. Travis Head blazed his way to an 18-ball fifty, while Abhishek Sharma set a new record for the fastest fifty for the 2016 champions in IPL with a 16-ball half-century.Heinrich Klaasen's explosive knock of 80 not out off 34 balls, which included seven sixes, further highlighted Sunrisers' dominance. The Mumbai Indians struggled to contain the onslaught, leaving fans and experts puzzled by Pandya's decision to hold back their premier bowler, Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah's delayed introduction into the attack allowed Sunrisers to pile on the runs, raising questions about the strategic move.The shift in fielding dynamics within the Mumbai Indians camp is a testament to the pressure and challenges faced by the team. As they seek to regain their former glory, the role of Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya in leading the team will be crucial.

Mumbai Indians Seek Redemption Against Sunrisers Hyderabad After Opening LossIn their first match of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL), five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) suffered a disappointing defeat to the Gujarat Titans. Despite promising performances from Jasprit Bumrah, Dewald Brevis, and Rohit Sharma, MI faltered in the final overs, failing to chase down a modest target of 178.Captain Hardik Pandya's decision to bat at number seven raised eyebrows, as he had been a top-order batsman for the Gujarat Titans last season. Some experts believe that Pandya should move up the order to provide stability to the MI batting lineup.MI's slow start to the tournament is a concern, as the 10-team event is more competitive than ever before. The team cannot afford to repeat their lackadaisical performance against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Wednesday.SRH, on the other hand, will be looking to build on their impressive victory over the Rajasthan Royals in their opening match. Led by the experienced Kane Williamson, SRH boasts a balanced squad with a strong bowling attack and a dangerous batting lineup.The match between MI and SRH promises to be a thrilling encounter, with both teams eager to secure their first win of the season. MI will be desperate to prove that their opening loss was an aberration, while SRH will be aiming to continue their momentum and establish themselves as a contender for the IPL title.

Former Indian cricketer Manoj Tiwary believes that Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya will face a "bit louder" booing during the team's first home IPL game on April 1. However, Tiwary also believes that Pandya has the composure to handle it.Before the season began, Pandya took over as captain of MI in lieu of Rohit Sharma. On Sunday, when the team played against his former team, Gujarat Titans, Ahmedabad supporters jeered him. MI were defeated by six runs in the contest, and they will play their first home game at Wankhede Stadium on Monday against Rajasthan Royals."You have to see how he gets welcomed here in Mumbai because I think he is going to get booed a bit louder here...Because as a fan, Mumbai fan or a Rohit Sharma fan, nobody expected that captaincy will be given to Hardik," Tiwary told PTI Videos in an interview."And despite Rohit giving five trophies to Mumbai Indians, he has to lose the captaincy. I don't know what are the reasons but I think it has not gone down well with the fans. And that is the reaction which you see on the field," he explained.Nonetheless, Tiwary finds Pandya's handling of the criticism from fans impressive."...knowing him, whatever I have been observing of late through television, that despite getting booed, he kept his calm, he kept his nerve, which is the sign of a good temperament," he said.The 38-year-old, West Bengal's minister of sports, stated that Pandya needs to tune out the distractions and concentrate on his game in order to be ready for the T20 World Cup, which gets underway in the Americas on June 1."I believe even if he was not booed, he has to perform well to get into the Indian team to play the World cup. Because it is important for all the players to perform well and be fit as well to be available for selection.""And him being the number one all-rounder...obviously he has to be in form and to be in form he has to perform," he said.Tiwary also commented on Rishabh Pant's comeback from a life-threatening car accident in 2022. He believes the big-hitter would be back to his devastating best very soon thanks to the unflinching support of the Delhi franchise."First of all, he's not going to be any burden. In fact, it's going to be more positive impact which he brings along with him because as a player, he's one of the most talented cricketers in India, in fact in the world cricket right now," he pointed out."Obviously in the first game, he did not look at his fluent best but that is obvious because it's not easy after coming back from injury...But the intent was good from him. With a few more matches, he will be back in his elements as a match-winner," Tiwary said.Tiwary said the backing of coach Ricky Ponting and mentor Sourav Ganguly has been a key factor in aiding Pant's comeback."From last year itself, the coach of the team, Ricky Ponting, brought him into the dugout...if we all can recollect, two months ago, Sourav Ganguly said that he's going to be the captain.""So when the mentor and the coach wants him in the team from very early, that means they are not thinking him as a burden. Even if he doesn't score runs, he is still their captain, he is their leader," he said.

Former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu has weighed in on the recent captaincy change in the Mumbai Indians (MI) franchise, where Rohit Sharma has been replaced by Hardik Pandya ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season.Sidhu believes that the change in captaincy does not diminish the stature of Rohit Sharma or MS Dhoni, who has also passed on the captaincy baton in the past. He emphasized that great players remain great regardless of their position in a team."I have played in an Indian team where five captains used to play together. There were no issues because they were playing for their nation. The motivation was to play for your country. So, playing under Hardik does not make Rohit smaller," Sidhu said.He further stated that franchise teams make decisions based on performance, and the change in captaincy at MI was a result of the team's struggles in recent seasons."But this is a franchise and they look at the performances. They gave it three years and when it did not work, they got a new person for the job. You need to accept it. But Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni are great players. A dwarf is a dwarf even if he is standing at the top of a mountain and a God is a God even if they are standing at the bottom of a well," Sidhu added.Meanwhile, MI's batting coach Kieron Pollard has defended the team's decision to open the bowling with Hardik Pandya instead of Jasprit Bumrah in their IPL opener against Gujarat Titans. He explained that it was a collective decision based on Pandya's recent success with the new ball for Gujarat Titans."You have to plan and decide what you want to do as a team. Hardik (Pandya) has also bowled with the new ball for Gujarat over the last couple of years. He swung the new ball and bowled it well, which was nothing new to us," Pollard said.Despite the change in captaincy and bowling strategy, MI lost their opening match of the IPL 2024 season by six runs to Gujarat Titans.

Former Indian fast bowler Lakshmipathy Balaji has expressed his belief that Hardik Pandya will need time to establish himself as the Mumbai Indians skipper after taking over from Rohit Sharma ahead of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL).Balaji acknowledged that Hardik's appointment has been met with mixed reactions, but he believes the all-rounder has the potential to handle the responsibility. However, he cautioned that if the team struggles, Hardik could face significant challenges."It's not something you see normally," Balaji said. "But in a professional field, you have to accept that one side is emotional and one side is something very big. When you come to replace a personality like Rohit Sharma, who is already a phenomenal achiever when it comes to Mumbai Indians, definitely it will take some time."Balaji emphasized the importance of Hardik gaining the trust of his teammates and adapting to his new role. He also noted that the team's performance will play a crucial role in shaping the perception of Hardik's captaincy."For Hardik to win the whole dressing room is very important as a player and as a human," Balaji said. "When they start winning, the emotions will be different. If they start losing, then you have problems to face."Meanwhile, former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has criticized Hardik's captaincy after Mumbai Indians' loss to Gujarat Titans in their IPL 2024 opener. Pathan believes Hardik made several mistakes, including opening the bowling himself and conceding 20 runs in the first over."He should have gone with an experienced asset like Jasprit Bumrah instead," Pathan said.

Mumbai Indians, the five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions, will face a formidable challenge when they take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad on March 27. Despite a promising start in their tournament opener against the Gujarat Titans, MI faltered in the run-chase, highlighting the need for improved performances.Hardik Pandya, the new Mumbai captain, has made some tactical adjustments, pushing himself down the batting order to accommodate the likes of Tim David and Dewald Brevis. However, there are calls for him to bat higher up the order, considering his impressive batting record for the Gujarat Titans last year.Opener Ishan Kishan, returning from a break, had a disappointing outing against GT. His performance will be closely monitored, especially with the T20 World Cup on the horizon. He needs to regain his form with both bat and gloves to secure a spot in the national squad.The Mumbai spinners, Shams Mulani and Piyush Chawla, will also be under pressure to deliver against SRH. The Hyderabad side, led by Pat Cummins, showed their potential in their narrow loss to the Kolkata Knight Riders.Heinrich Klaasen's late heroics almost pulled off an improbable victory for SRH, while the opening duo of Mayank Agarwal and Abhishek Sharma displayed promise. However, the team will need more consistency from its batters to succeed in the competition.SRH has invested heavily in pinch hitter Abdul Samad, and it is time for him to deliver on his potential. The experienced Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was targeted by Andre Russell in the previous match, will be eager to bounce back strongly."It's a tough job in cricket to bowl to someone like him (Russell). It's one of those ones which goes one way or the other. Who would have thought we would have got that close? Unfortunately, a bit too much. Lots to be encouraged by. A couple of points to work on also," said Cummins after the narrow loss at Eden Gardens.

Mumbai Indians: Rumors of Discord Surface Amidst Hardik Pandya's Captaincy DebutThe Mumbai Indians' (MI) camp has been shrouded in speculation following Hardik Pandya's appointment as captain, replacing Rohit Sharma. After MI's 6-run defeat to Gujarat Titans, Hardik's leadership and rapport with the team have come under scrutiny.A video circulating on social media has fueled rumors of a divide within the squad. It shows Jasprit Bumrah and Rohit Sharma engaged in an intense conversation after the match. Bumrah appeared visibly upset, pointing out something to Rohit.Meanwhile, Hardik was seen interacting with his former Gujarat Titans teammate Shubman Gill, who succeeded him as captain. Ishan Kishan was also present during this exchange.Fans have expressed concern over the videos, questioning the harmony within the MI camp. Earlier reports suggested that some players were disappointed with Hardik's appointment as captain.Hardik's on-field decisions have also drawn criticism. His choice to not give Bumrah the new ball and his decision to bat at No. 7 have been questioned.Despite leading Gujarat Titans to two consecutive IPL finals, Hardik has yet to win over Mumbai Indians fans. He faced boos and jeers from the Ahmedabad crowd during the match against his former team.Sources close to the team have indicated that there may be a sense of disappointment among players over the decision to replace Rohit with Hardik. However, the extent of any discord remains unclear.The Mumbai Indians will need to address these rumors and ensure a cohesive team environment if they want to succeed in the ongoing IPL season.

Shubman Gill's maiden victory as Gujarat Titans skipper marked a momentous occasion for the young cricketer. In their opening match of IPL 2024, the Titans emerged victorious over Mumbai Indians, led by Hardik Pandya. Gill's appointment as GT captain followed Pandya's departure to MI, making his first win against his former team even more significant.Gill's leadership was lauded by fans and experts alike. After the match, he shared an emotional moment with his father and sister at the team hotel, a video of which has gone viral on social media.Mumbai Indians' inexplicable batting strategy at the death proved costly, allowing Gill to make a successful debut as captain. Despite Jasprit Bumrah's exceptional performance with the ball, restricting Gujarat Titans to 168/6, batters like Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya failed to capitalize on his efforts.MI's inability to chase down the target of 169 runs with seven wickets in hand and just 43 runs required in the last five overs highlighted their batting woes. The team's opening game jinx continued, as their last IPL opener win came against Chennai Super Kings in 2012.Spinners Rashid Khan and R Sai Kishore kept the Mumbai batters in check, while veteran Mohit Sharma's variations proved decisive. Spencer Johnson and Umesh Yadav's brilliant bowling in the 19th and 20th overs sealed the victory for Gujarat Titans.Hardik Pandya's decision to bat at No. 7 raised eyebrows, as he could only manage a six and four in the final over. The Titans' victory was a testament to Gill's leadership and the team's collective effort, while Mumbai Indians will need to address their batting concerns to improve their chances in the tournament.

Hardik Pandya's maiden outing as Mumbai Indians captain proved to be a baptism of fire, as he faced a barrage of criticism from fans, commentators, and experts alike. The decision to replace Rohit Sharma with Pandya as skipper drew widespread disapproval, with fans expressing their dismay at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.Pandya's tactical decisions during MI's opening match against Gujarat Titans came under intense scrutiny. His choice to bowl the first over himself instead of Jasprit Bumrah raised eyebrows, with former England player Kevin Pietersen expressing disbelief at the crowd's reaction. "I have never seen any Indian player getting booed like they are booing Hardik Pandya here in Ahmedabad. This is a rare happening," Pietersen said.Pandya's decision to send Tim David ahead of him also drew criticism, with Irfan Pathan suggesting that the new MI skipper may have been trying to avoid facing Rashid Khan. Former India head coach Anil Kumble took a dig at Pandya for not revealing the names of the players when asked about the team combination at the toss.The criticism extended beyond the match itself, with fans taking to social media to express their disapproval. Videos of fans booing Pandya circulated widely, reflecting the sentiment of those who were unwilling to accept him as the Mumbai Indians skipper.Pandya's performance on the field did little to quell the criticism. He scored just 12 runs and conceded 30 runs in his two overs, failing to make a significant impact on the game. MI ultimately lost the match by 5 wickets, adding to the disappointment of the fans.The backlash against Pandya highlights the high expectations that come with captaining one of the most successful teams in the IPL. Rohit Sharma's legacy as a leader looms large, and Pandya will need to prove himself worthy of the role if he wants to win over the hearts of the Mumbai Indians faithful.