Former India head coach Ravi Shastri weighed in on the situation surrounding Hardik Pandya’s captaincy in IPL 2024, urging fans to support the new skipper and give him the time needed to settle into his role. Shastri’s comments came in response to the backlash Hardik has faced from fans, particularly during Mumbai Indians’ recent match against Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium.
“You have supported the team over the years. In just 2-3 matches, they won’t be a bad team. They are 5-time champions, after all, they have a new captain. Just be patient, you know the bloke you’re getting after is a human being like you. At the end of the day, he has to sleep in the night. So just think about it, be calm,” Ravi Shastri advised during an interview with Star Sports.
“My thing to Hardik would be ‘calm, patient, ignore and then just focus on your game’. You get a couple of performances going..they are a terrific side, if they win 3-4 matches, everything will subside. You will, things will change,” he added.
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Ravi Shastri empathized with Hardik, who visibly struggled with the booing from the crowd during the match. Despite showcasing his talent with the bat, the jeers persisted, impacting his performance and morale. Shastri emphasized that Hardik is bearing the brunt of circumstances beyond his control, hinting at the handling of the transition between him and former captain Rohit Sharma.
“See, at the end of the day, this is not an Indian cricket team that is playing. This is franchise cricket. They have paid top dollar, they are the bosses. It’s their entitlement as to who they want as captain,” Ravi Shastri clarified.
“Where I think this could have been handled better is more clarity in communication. If you wanted as captain, say you’re looking at the future, looking to build, we are doing a fabulous job as every one knows and we want him to help out Hardik in the next 3 years when the team is in progress. That communication should have come out a little more for all this to die down. It’s not a case of you saying ‘we don’t want Rohit Sharma’, or he was treated badly,” he added.
Furthermore, Shastri criticized the spread of rumours and misinformation on social media, urging fans to exercise caution and verify the information before believing it. He emphasized that much of what circulates online is fabricated and meant to incite controversy rather than convey truth.
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Mumbai Indians’ poor start to IPL 2024, with three consecutive losses, has only intensified the scrutiny on Hardik and the team management. However, Shastri believes that with time and support, Hardik can turn the team’s fortunes around and silence his critics.
