"You Picked A Player, He's Not Fit..." - Aakash Chopra On Hardik Pandya Replacing Rohit Sharma As MI Captain
Published - 16 Dec 2023, 02:34 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:24 AM
Aakash Chopra has expressed concerns about the appointment of Hardik Pandya as the captain of the Mumbai Indians for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. Aakash Chopra emphasized the risk involved in making Hardik Pandya the leader of the franchise.
The Mumbai Indians made a significant decision by appointing Hardik Pandya as the captain for the upcoming season, replacing Rohit Sharma. It’s worth mentioning that the all-rounder was initially retained by the Gujarat Titans (GT) before being traded to his former franchise.
Important For Hardik Pandya To Stay Fit – Aakash Chopra
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra emphasized the importance of Pandya staying fit for IPL 2024. He mentioned the risk associated with choosing a player as captain who may face fitness issues, stating that it could have significant consequences.
“These decisions are tough. But, if we talk about Hardik Pandya, it is important for him to stay fit. If Hardik Pandya does not remain fit, everything falls on its head. You picked a player, he is not fit and you have also made him captain. It’s a huge one,” Chopra said.
“He left captaincy at Gujarat Titans and we felt he might be vice-captain over here. But he has been named captain,” he added.
Pandya has faced challenges with fitness and injuries over the years. He is currently recovering from an ankle injury sustained during the 2023 World Cup. The all-rounder’s fitness remains a concern as he continues his rehabilitation from his recent injury.
Hardik Pandya Captained Really Well – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra reflected on Pandya’s captaincy, acknowledging his successful leadership with the Gujarat Titans for two years. Chopra praised Pandya’s calm demeanor and highlighted Ashish Nehra’s significant role in shaping Pandya as a captain.
“He led Gujarat Titans for two years. The first year, they won. In the second year, they were runners-up. He captained really well. He has a calm demeanor and is not someone who gets excited a lot. If something goes wrong, he puts his hands up and admits his mistake.”
“I also feel Ashish Nehra has big role in Hardik Pandya becoming the captain that he is. Mumbai also has a very good support staff, so he will get inputs from there as well,” Chopra further added.
