Former South African batsman AB de Villiers has addressed the controversy surrounding his remarks on Hardik Pandya’s captaincy for Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 2024. De Villiers vehemently denied any criticism of Pandya’s leadership, blaming the media for misinterpreting his comments. Hardik Pandya, who enjoyed immense success leading Gujarat Titans (GT) to the IPL title in 2022 and reaching the finals in 2023, faced criticism after taking over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma at MI for the 2024 season.
MI, boasting a star-studded lineup, has underperformed under Pandya, becoming the first team eliminated from the tournament. AB de Villiers, known for his explosive batting and charismatic personality, expressed his disappointment on his YouTube channel regarding the media portrayal of his comments. He clarified that he had previously praised Hardik’s leadership style, but his words were taken out of context.
“I see there is a lot of activity on social media about the comments I made about Hardik Pandya and Mumbai Indians,” AB de Villiers stated on his show. “And it’s a shame that journalism and reporting has gotten so low (laughs). And I am very happy that some of you have pointed it out, taking some of those comments out and leaving the rest,” he added, highlighting the selective reporting.
WATCH – KKR Fan Tries To Hide Ball After Six: Viral Video Captures Stadium Drama
AB de Villiers explained that his comments about Hardik’s “brave” captaincy were not meant as a negative. Instead, he drew parallels between Hardik’s approach and his own playing style, where they both adopted a more intense persona on the field.
“I very clearly stated and I will state this again, I love the way Hardik Pandya plays his game,” AB de Villiers emphasized. “I love the way he captains. All I can say is, 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 continued, acknowledging the effort behind Hardik’s leadership style.
Without the full context of what has been said, it’s better to avoid sharing bits and parts of a piece, as someone’s full opinion. 🙏🏻
🔗: https://t.co/fnZsF5eqlR#IPL2024 #360Live #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/a69Ulv0JMB
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) May 13, 2024
AB de Villiers further elaborated on his own experiences, suggesting that Hardik’s leadership style might not be universally appreciated.
“Why I said it’s not always genuine is because I played the same way,” De Villiers confessed. “The guy you saw on the field was in a way ‘an act’. 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. I am saying that style is not always the easiest style to adapt to, especially for some senior players,” he explained.
ALSO READ: “I don’t think half the team was fit”- Ambati Rayudu on MS Dhoni’s fitness concerns in IPL 2024
AB de Villiers concluded his statement by expressing his support for Hardik and his disappointment with the way his words were twisted.
“I love Hardik Pandya, that’s what I said,” De Villiers declared. “To you reporters out there, I am sorry to burst your bubble,” he finished, aiming a clear jab at the media for creating unnecessary controversy.Despite the controversy surrounding his captaincy, Hardik Pandya will look to lead MI in their remaining matches and build a stronger foundation for the upcoming seasons.
