"Hardik Pandya is an unacceptable character in India"- Ex Gujarat Titans' teammate

Gujarat Titans pacer Mohit Sharma has opened up about allrounder Hardik Pandya's best quality as a captain.

Hardik was Gujarat Titans captain in their first two IPL seasons in 2022 and 2023 where the team finished with a winner and a runners-up title.

However, Pandya left the team ahead of the IPL 2024 season to join his former team Mumbai Indians.

Under his leadership, Mumbai Indians finished last in IPL 2024. Even Gujarat Titans too didn't have a great season and finished eighth in the points table.

After he joined Mumbai Indians, Hardik Pandya received heavy criticism from all around the cricketing world for leaving Gujarat Titans which was doing exceptionally well.

He was even criticised by the fans of his team Mumbai Indians for replacing their beloved captain Rohit Sharma in the role.

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Mohit Sharma speaks on Hardik Pandya's expressive attitude

Recently, Gujarat Titans pacer Mohit Sharma has spoken up about Hardik Pandya's expressive attitude which is different from the others. Mohit claimed that the people could not accept Hardik's over-expressive nature which is why he was trolled so badly.

"We can't accept those people in our society who are expressive because we are not like them. Everyone wants to be over-aggressive and become like Hardik (Pandya) but we are unable to do so. I am not saying if anything is right or wrong. Everyone has their own thinking and their own way of looking at things," Mohit said.

The fast bowler further lauded Hardik Pandya for being a good person who always listens to people around him and keeps the environment nice and healthy.

"As a person, Hardik is very good. He is a darling kind of guy. He is easygoing, will understand your thoughts, and talk to you as well. He keeps the environment healthy. He doesn't care what the world thinks about him," he added.

Mohit Sharma opens up about Hardik Pandya's best quality as a captain

Mohit Sharma talking about Hardik Pandya. (2 Sloggers).pic.twitter.com/AcYiRJ5Rxl

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 25, 2024

Mohit Sharma further revealed the quality Hardik Pandya possesses as a captain. According to him, Hardi is positive and can pump up his players. The GT pacer added that Hardik's work ethic inspires the other players around him to do well and give their best for the team.

"You can improve things with time. But the great quality about Hardik is he really pumps up his players to do well because he pumps himself as well and wants to keep himself on his toes. When he does that, the players around him also get inspired," Sharma said.

Mohit Sharma breaks silence on Hardik Pandya's tough journey

The experienced pacer also mentioned Pandya's tough journey over the years in which he has gone through multiple surgeries. Mohit Sharma claimed that the star India allrounder continues to push himself even through injuries which is an inspiration for his team.

"He has faced some really tough issues like back surgery and other kinds of injuries. But people don't believe that. You should first go into that condition. I've had surgeries myself and I know that when such situations come, then you are not even able to move," Mohit noted.

"But he is fielding in such situations and even tries to bowl a couple of overs. So, being a leader, his quality of pumping up his players is really good and at the same time, he will come out as an even better player the more he does that," he continued.

Hardik is currently the captain of Mumbai Indians and is likely to be retained by the franchise for the next IPL season. The allrounder was recently snubbed from India's T20I captaincy after the retirement of Rohit Sharma from the format.

When Rohit was India's captain in the T20 World Cup 2024, Hardik was the team's vice-captain. But Rohit retired from the format after winning the title which raised the speculations that Hardik will be India's next T20I skipper.

However, the new team management led by the head coach Gautam Gambhir, and the chief selector Ajit Agarkar thought otherwise and instead made Suryakumar Yadav India's next T20I captain. The decision was taken after looking at the history of Pandya's injuries.