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Irfan Pathan, a former Indian bowler, has analysed this managerial choice. Due to his time as captain of the Mumbai Indians in the India Premier League 2024, Hardik Pandya has been under scrutiny. MI is one of the clubs at the bottom of the points table and has performed horribly in the league with lots of money. In the midst of all of this, Hardik Pandya was selected to lead the Indian squad in the 2024 T20 World Cup as vice captain.
In his first captaincy, the all-round player guided Gujarat Titans to the IPL 2022 title tile. GT advanced to the IPL 2023 finals under his direction. However, he hasn’t been able to work the same magic with MI this season. Pathan chastised Pandya severely for his inconsistent performance and lack of planning before important occasions. He also emphasised how Pandya’s particular treatment by the management impacts the atmosphere among the team.
“After the T20 World Cup, senior players were included because of their experience rather than being excluded as a plan. Planning must be explicit, and teams often follow a defined path. Rohit Sharma assumed captaincy for T20 matches, replacing Hardik Pandya. After the T20 World Cup, a new strategy was implemented, with the goal of fielding a younger team with Pandya and Surya as possible captains.
However, concerns are raised over Pandya’s reliability and dedication to Indian cricket, Pathan stated on Star Sports Press Room Show, Ticket to World Cup.
Playing domestic cricket on a regular basis is crucial to serve Indian cricket all year round. While injuries are unavoidable, a player’s recovery depends on careful preparation that includes regular match participation, especially in domestic cricket. However, there is one athlete who returns from injury but does not meet the same standards. That is not what should occur since it gives the other members of the team the wrong impression. The team dynamic is disrupted when they witness one player getting preferential treatment, he continued.
An individual such as Bumrah would not have been a poor choice: Irfan Pathan
Online, MI came under fire for Pandya’s preferential treatment. More than anything, reports had indicated that the batter was demanding the captaincy role. The management of Indian teams has also faced a good bit of criticism. When Jasprit Bumrah returned from injury, he was immediately named captain. The team saw multiple skippers take the helm at various times. Pathan claimed that egalitarianism should triumph over the culture of favouritism.
Unlike tennis, cricket is a team sport in which equality is essential. It is important to treat each player equally and fairly. Cricket is first and foremost a team sport, regardless of skill level—Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and other experienced players are just two examples. I’ve seen things in the past that violated the rules of Indian cricket, especially during the T20 World Cup last year—situations where some players had unfair advantages, which is unacceptable,” Pathan went on.
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In order to achieve success in competitions such as the World Cup, it is essential that each player be handled similarly and fairly. Returning to your original point, I can now appreciate why Hardik Pandya is the vice captain since leadership consistency is crucial. Nonetheless, it might make sense for the selectors to choose continuity given the present performance. However, I think that Bumrah would have been a good option as well,” he said in closing.
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