IND vs IRE: Hardik Pandya's 'temperamental issue' exposed by Sanjay Manjrekar

Sanjay Manjrekar has decoded the issue that limited all-rounder Hardik Pandya from expressing himself in IPL 2024. 

Hardik Pandya, who will be the vice-captain of team India at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, was appointed as Mumbai Indians' captain this season. Pandya replaced long-time skipper Rohit Sharma, who played his first IPL edition as non-captain for the first time since 2013. What eventually took place in the MI camp was something the players would love to forget. 

Most of the MI players were not in sync with new skipper Hardik Pandya as the franchise's communication gaps were evident. The 5-time champions eventually finished at the bottom of the points table. While that was a questionable thing, fingers, and concerns were raised on Pandya's form itself. 

Hardik Pandya shuts down his critics with a decent knock against Bangladesh

Hardik Pandya arrived in New York with a poor batting as well as bowling form. India's only warm-up game against Bangladesh yesterday was a match where Pandya tried to get his form back. To everyone's surprise, the all-rounder came out all guns blazing against the Bangladeshi bowling attack. 

Pandya had arrived at the crease after the dismissal of Shivam Dube for 14 in the 15th over of the match. The Baroda-born cricketer came in and started doing what he loves and what people have known him for in all these years. Hardik Pandya was able to make the most out of the unfavorable conditions of batting. 

Other than him, only Rishabh Pant was able to bat well as the wicket-keeper batsman smacked a half-century on his India return for the first time since December 2022. Hardik Pandya on the other hand batted at a strike rate of over 170. He was very crucial in those death overs as he smashed 40 off 23 including 2 fours and 4 massive sixes. 

That innings must have given Pandya a lot of confidence heading into the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. The Indian team will first take on Ireland in New York on June 5 before facing arch-rivals Pakistan at the same venue. On June 12, Rohit Sharma's men will face hosts USA in NY before flying to Florida to take on Canada on June 15th. 

In the previous T20 WC edition in Australia, Hardik Pandya was a key player throughout the tournament with his best knock coming against Pakistan. The expectations will be similar this time around as well. 

What did Sanjay Manjrekar say about Hardik Pandya's IPL 2024 form?

While commentating during India and Bangladesh's clash last night, Sanjay Manjrekar spoke on Hardik Pandya's poor form in IPL 2024. Manjrekar felt that the all-rounder's temperament was somehow not right during the tournament due to the outside pressure and social media trolling.

Manjrekar finished off by saying that Pandya will be happy himself after this knock and added that the all-rounder is a big-match player. 

"What happened in the IPL was a slight temperamental issue because he was feeling the pressure from outside. The environment might not have been good."

"I am not at all surprised that he will feel slightly relaxed and relieved after donning India's and not the Mumbai Indians' blues. He has the ability and I am repeatedly saying that he is a big-match player," Manjrekar said via Star Sports.