The IPL 2024 has been a tough time for the Mumbai Indians (MI). The most victorious franchisee of the league has seen its end this season. The selection of Hardik Pandya as the new captain of the Mumbai Indians instead of Rohit Sharma was the source of significant controversy and led to internal unrest and poor results on the field.
MI decides to make Hardik Pandya the captain who makes headlines, not just for Indian fans but for other cricket analysts. The authority bestowed on Rohit Sharma, a five-time title-winning skipper, with the help of this new appointment, meant that Pandya was up against an immense rock to have him accepted by the MI faithful.
Heated Controversy Among Players
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The fans of MI were frustrated and disappointed, as Hardik Pandya was booed by his supporters at the Wankhede Stadium. Team harmony issues raised in the media room also contributed to making matters worse for Pandya as his leadership skills were called into question.
Pandya’s Sloppy Play and Injury on the Field
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Pandya’s problems went beyond the off-field issues, as his on-field performance was not to be reckoned with. He was caught scoreless in the 13th inning of this season and added only 202 runs to his name so far.
In addition to this, the ball is not his strong point either. His performance in this category was also dull, as he was able to get only 11 wickets in the whole season. The MI’s troubles were not confined to Pandya alone, as several key players, including Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Suryakumar Yadav, even failed to perform well with the bat.
A combined lack of effort from every team put the team in the situation of MI being the first team to throw off the playoff race.
Also Read: Virat Kohli’s Spectacular And Record-Breaking Performance in IPL 2024
De Villiers was having an honest conversation with the former South African batsman, and he said many things about his captain, Hardik Pandya. De Villiers said that the leadership style of Pandya was ego-centric and often seemed to lack genuineness. Mentioning an instance of a lack of emotion and calmness in MS Dhoni, de Villiers brought up the point of authenticity in leadership.
Experienced Players Demand Authenticity
The most difficult part of leading a team of veterans, according to de Villiers, is his ability to arouse them unceasingly. He also added that he learned those lessons from Graeme Smith, his captain when he was playing for South Africa.
Also Read: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Secure Playoff Berth after Win Against Mumbai Indians (MI) In IPL 2024
Ahead of the last game of MI against the Lucknow Super Giants, the topic of making a playoff move is duly replaced by playing to protect prestige. The result of the game may not change anything about the whole tournament for the team. But it is still a good time for the crew to spend some time again to assess everything and regroup for the remaining part of the tournament.
MI’s journey in IPL 2024 was a success undermined by controversies, poor performances, and doubtful leadership. Being the new season, which has many hopes and desires but has not brought out the best in the franchise and the players. It still serves as a learning platform for the entire industry and all those involved in it, with the season being the first step for the next.
Also Read: Bumrah Joins Elite Company with 20 Wickets in Four IPL Seasons
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