After the conclusion of the IPL 2024, former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh showed his sympathy for Hardik Pandya. In the next T20 World Cup, Harbhajan hoped Hardik would overcome his obstacles and perform well while wearing Indian colors.
With the star all-rounder, who is now in London, likely to join the team in the USA, Hardik will lead the Indian side as vice captain in the prestigious competition.
Hardik, who had a forgettable performance while captaining MI in the IPL 2024, was anticipated by Harbhajan to turn things around in the T20 World Cup.
He stated, “India will undoubtedly have a great chance to advance if he has a good tournament.” Hardik assumed leadership of the team and succeeded Rohit Sharma as captain. But after only 4 victories in 14 games and 10 losses, MI was left wallowing at the bottom of the standings.
Harbhajan admitted that Hardik’s physique was a worry, not to mention the additional backlash he had to deal with. Harbhajan, though, believed that the Indian squad should battle as a cohesive unit to win the championship.
“Yes, there are some concerns about his form, but there were also a lot of other things going on around him. The team didn’t respond well to Hardik’s return, especially as captain, because of his relocation from Gujarat to Mumbai.
They didn’t appear to be playing as a cohesive squad. Consequently, a lot was happening. For the previous two months, Hardik was not free. To do something exceptional for the country, I think the two of them as well as a large number of players from other teams will need to work together,” he remarked.
“I would implore the management to pull everyone together, get everybody on the same page, and make sure they play like a team because winning a World Cup is a larger accomplishment than winning an IPL trophy.
In my opinion, it is the management’s duty to unite and triumph as a team. They ought to lose together, even if they do not win.” Hardik was jeered by supporters in every venue, indicating that some were not thrilled with his selection as MI captain.
Following the captaincy switch, there were whispers of a falling out between Hardik and Rohit. Nevertheless, at the T20 World Cup, Hardik will try to work with the Indian skipper as his deputy. Following an eight-month hiatus due to an ankle injury sustained during the 2023 ODI World Cup, Hardik will don the Indian shirt.