Former India cricketer Praveen Kumar didn’t mince words when criticizing Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya ahead of the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League. Expressing his concerns, the 37-year-old highlighted Pandya’s frequent injuries and lack of participation in both national and domestic cricket.
Pointing out Pandya’s recent ankle injury during the ODI World Cup match against Bangladesh, Praveen emphasized the importance of consistent play for the country and state teams rather than solely focusing on the IPL. He questioned the trend of prioritizing IPL over other cricketing commitments, stressing the need for a balanced approach.
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In a viral interview clip, Praveen Kumar remarked, “You get injured two months before the IPL, you don’t play for the country, you don’t play for your state in domestic cricket, and just directly play in the IPL. That’s not how things should be done. It’s okay to earn money, there’s nothing wrong with that. But you have to play for state and country and now people only give importance to the IPL.”
Well said Praveen Kumar about hardik Pandya #HardikPandya #MI
— विजय (@bijjuu11) March 12, 2024
Additionally, Praveen expressed his disagreement with Mumbai Indians’ decision to replace Rohit Sharma with Pandya as the team’s captain. Despite Pandya’s arrival from the Gujarat Titans, Praveen believes that Rohit Sharma could have continued leading the team for several more years. While acknowledging the management’s authority to make decisions, he suggested that Rohit’s leadership could have extended beyond a single season.
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“Rohit can do it. Not only for one year, but he can do it for two years, three years. But eventually, the decision lies in the hands of the management,” Praveen Kumar asserted.
As Mumbai Indians gear up for their IPL 2024 campaign, commencing with a match against Gujarat Titans on March 24, the team dynamics and leadership choices remain subjects of scrutiny and debate.
