Cricket

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.

KKR CEO Dismisses Rohit Sharma's Exit Rumors, Calls Conversation with Nayar 'Mischief'Kolkata Knight Riders CEO Venky Mysore has downplayed the significance of a conversation between Rohit Sharma and Abhishek Nayar that sparked speculation about the former Mumbai Indians captain's potential departure from the franchise.In a podcast with RevSportz, Mysore clarified that the conversation was taken out of context and was an attempt to create mischief. "I didn't even know about it, I think it's just a storm in a teacup," he said. "They have been good friends since god knows how long and someone has done something there just to create some mischief."KKR initially posted the video of the conversation on their social media channels but later removed it, further fueling speculation among fans. However, Mysore confirmed that both Rohit and Nayar were discussing something else and that the video was taken down due to the noise in the background."Some people just have too much time on their hands," Mysore added.The conversation between Rohit and Nayar, which took place during MI's match against KKR on May 9, was not clearly audible due to the crowd noise. However, Rohit can be heard saying, "Ek ek cheez change ho raha hai...Woh unke upar hai...Jo bhi hai woh mera ghar hai bhai, woh temple jo hai na maine banwaya hai." The last audible line in the chat is "Bhai mera kya mera to ye last hai".Fans quickly reacted to the video, speculating that Rohit was talking about the MI captaincy and his potential departure from the franchise. However, Mysore's clarification has put those rumors to rest.Rohit and Nayar have a long-standing friendship dating back to their Mumbai domestic cricket days. Nayar is also credited with playing a significant role in Rohit's comeback into the Indian team after the 2011 ODI World Cup snub.

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.

Kolkata Knight Riders Fan Tries to Hide Match Ball, Faces Police WrathIn an unusual incident during the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs. Mumbai Indians match in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, a young fan attempted to conceal a match ball that had landed in the stands, resulting in a confrontation with a police officer.The incident occurred on May 11 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata during a rain-shortened 16-overs-a-side match. As a six sailed into the stands, the fan, identified as a young boy, tried to hide the ball under his clothes.However, his attempt was thwarted by a vigilant police officer who retrieved the ball and escorted the boy towards the exit gate. A video of the incident, captured by a spectator, has gone viral on social media.The incident sparked a debate on social media, with some users criticizing the fan's behavior while others questioned the police officer's excessive force.KKR emerged victorious in the match, defeating Mumbai by 18 runs. The win secured a playoff berth for KKR while eliminating Mumbai from the tournament.

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.

Piyush Chawla, the veteran Mumbai Indians (MI) spinner, has expressed his desire to continue playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after his impressive performances in the ongoing edition. Despite going unsold in the IPL 2022 auction, Chawla was picked up by MI ahead of IPL 2023 and has made a significant impact.With 10 wickets in as many games this season, Chawla has been one of the few bright spots for MI, who have already been eliminated from the playoffs race. However, it is unlikely that the franchise will retain him for the IPL 2025 mega auction.When asked about his future in the IPL, Chawla responded with a cheeky remark, leaving journalists in splits. "You tell me, if I should be playing with the way I'm bowling? If you have given your permission, of course I will see you somewhere next time," he said during the post-match press conference.Chawla has played 191 IPL matches for four different franchises, including Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, and MI. The 35-year-old surpassed Dwayne Bravo earlier this season to become the second all-time leading wicket-taker in the tournament, with 189 wickets. He was part of the KKR team that won the IPL in 2014.In MI's recent match against KKR at the Eden Gardens, Chawla picked up two wickets, but the team ultimately lost in a rain-hit game. Reflecting on the defeat, Chawla acknowledged that MI failed to gain momentum and praised KKR spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine for turning the tide."T20 is about momentum, and we didn't get that momentum right from the beginning. Some days we bowled well, but our batting didn't click, and sometimes our batters did well, but the bowlers ended up leaking runs," he said."As a unit, we have failed in a few games, and we have to accept that as a team. We have a brilliant lineup, but things didn't fall into place. Today also, we started off brilliantly, but that spell of (Sunil) Narine and Varun (Chakravarthy) actually made the difference. You have to give credit to their bowlers," Chawla added.Despite MI's disappointing season, Chawla's performances have been a positive sign for the veteran spinner. He remains hopeful of extending his IPL career and will be looking to make a strong impact in the remaining matches of the season.

Rohit Sharma's dismal batting performance in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) has raised concerns among Indian cricket fans and former players alike. The Mumbai Indians captain's poor form has cast a shadow over India's T20 World Cup 2024 campaign, with many questioning his place in the national team.Rohit's struggles with the bat have been evident throughout the IPL season. In 14 matches, he has managed only 218 runs at an average of 15.57 and a strike rate of 122.89. His highest score of 48 came against the Chennai Super Kings, but he has failed to convert any of his starts into substantial innings.Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan expressed his concern over Rohit's form, stating that it is a "big worry" for both Mumbai Indians and the Indian team. "Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma's form is a big worry for Mumbai and Indians. You hope that they come back to form quickly," Pathan wrote on Twitter.However, former India pacer Varun Aaron believes that Rohit will not face the same difficulties with the Indian team as he has with Mumbai Indians. "I don't think it's a big worry. Rohit can flip the switch at national duty, he holds it in very high regard," Aaron told ESPNCricinfo. "A player of his class, you can easily use the phrase form is temporary, class is permanent. He will find form, he doesn't have to worry."Despite Aaron's optimism, Rohit's poor IPL form has put pressure on the Mumbai Indians management to rest him and other marquee players like Jasprit Bumrah. With only one league campaign left in the season, the team's hopes of qualifying for the playoffs are all but over.Rohit's struggles have also raised questions about his leadership abilities. As captain of the Indian team, he has been criticized for his conservative approach and lack of tactical acumen. Some experts believe that his poor form with the bat has affected his decision-making on the field.With the T20 World Cup 2024 just over a year away, Rohit's form and leadership will be under intense scrutiny. The Indian team will need him to rediscover his batting prowess and provide the necessary guidance to the team if they are to challenge for the title.

Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag has criticized Mumbai Indians' (MI) batting duo Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav for their slow starts and subsequent dismissals in the IPL 2024 match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).In a rain-affected encounter reduced to 16 overs, MI chased a target of 158. While Ishan Kishan provided a solid start with 40 off 22 balls, Rohit and Suryakumar struggled to get going. Rohit scored 19 off 24 deliveries, while Suryakumar managed only 11 off 14.Sehwag believes that the duo's inability to accelerate their innings cost MI the match. "Whoever bowls good, just play him out. If two wickets hadn't fallen, Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav could've finished the match an over before," he said on Cricbuzz.He emphasized the importance of respecting the bowlers and playing out their good deliveries. "You can't have an ego when you come out to bat. You play them out or punish the loose deliveries," Sehwag added.Sehwag also pointed out that Rohit and Suryakumar's dismissals came on good deliveries. "The ball on which Rohit Sharma got out wasn't a weak ball. No doubt Rohit and Suryakumar are great players, but that doesn't mean you should hit the good deliveries, too," he said.KKR's bowlers, led by Venkatesh Iyer, restricted MI to 142/9, securing a 15-run victory. Sehwag believes that if Rohit and Suryakumar had been set, they could have easily chased down the target."If Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav were set at that time, they would've hit 5 balls for boundaries. You could be Rohit Sharma or Suryakumar Yadav, but at least respect the delivery if you can't respect the bowler," he concluded.

Rohit Sharma's KKR Meet-Up Fuels Transfer Rumors Amidst Mumbai Indians Exit SpeculationsFormer Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma's recent meeting with Kolkata Knight Riders coaches and support staff has ignited rumors of his potential departure from the five-time IPL champions. During a rain delay ahead of the MI vs KKR match at Eden Gardens, Rohit was spotted in the KKR dressing room, engaging in an animated conversation with assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, bowling coach Bharat Arun, and players Manish Pandey and KS Bharat.These rumors have been circulating since Hardik Pandya controversially took over the captaincy from Rohit, reportedly leaving the opener unhappy with the franchise. Social media has been abuzz with speculation that Rohit may leave MI after this season.Rohit's meeting with KKR coaches on Saturday has further fueled the transfer talks. Earlier, a now-deleted video of Rohit and Nayar posted by KKR went viral on social media. In the clip, Rohit appeared to express dissatisfaction with the current situation at MI. The video was later removed by KKR from its social media handles.KKR's 18-run victory over MI in a rain-shortened game on Saturday marked their qualification for the IPL 2024 playoffs. MI, on the other hand, have been eliminated from the playoffs race, having suffered 9 losses in 13 games under Hardik's leadership.