Jasprit Bumrah reveals how MI supported Hardik Pandya during IPL
Jasprit Bumrah, India's premier fast bowler, has opened up about Mumbai Indians' support for Hardik Pandya during a challenging period. This follows the backlash Pandya faced from fans after replacing Rohit Sharma as the MI captain in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL). The situation escalated to such an extent that commentator Sanjay Manjrekar had to intervene and ask the Wankhede crowd to "behave."
Bumrah highlights team's stance on fan backlash
In an interview with The Indian Express, Bumrah revealed the team's stance on the issue. He stated, "You have to take it on your chin. That's where the inner circle comes in. We, as a team, don't encourage that, we don't promote that." He further emphasized that they believed such behavior was unwarranted and stood firmly behind Pandya during this difficult time.
Bumrah discusses team's support
Bumrah further elaborated on the team's unwavering support for Pandya. "We were with him (Hardik), talking to him, if he needed support. Certain things are beyond your control. If it happened, it happened," he said. This statement highlights the team's commitment to stand by their captain despite external pressures and challenges.
MI finished last in IPL 2024
A lackluster show meant MI finished at the bottom of the 2024 IPL points table. It was a poor campaign for MI under Hardik, who was traded from Gujarat Titans. MI lacked bite across departments and their captain's misfiring campaign was a major talking point. The five-time champions claimed just four wins from 14 matches. They suffered 10 defeats. MI's NRR was -0.318.
The lackluster show from skipper Hardik
Hardik could not get going with the bat in IPL 2024. The swashbuckler overall accumulated 216 runs in the season at 18. His strike rate was 143.04 with his highest score being 46. The all-rounder bowled some fine spells in the latter half of the tournament. He finished with 11 wickets at an economy of 10.75.
Pandya's performance in T20 World Cup changed narrative
Bumrah noted a shift in public opinion following India's victory in the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, where Pandya played a pivotal role. "The narrative just changed when we won the World Cup. This is part of the journey. It's us against the world," he said. Pandya's match-winning final over against South Africa and his overall performance significantly contributed to this change in perception.
