"Hardik Pandya won't allow Rohit Sharma's.."- Michael Clarke drops a bombshell remark
Published - 04 Apr 2024, 04:10 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:09 AM
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke feels that it's been a "heavy" few weeks for Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya who has returned in Mumbai Indians colors for the first time since 2021. Pandya has received loud jeers and boos wherever he has gone to play as the new MI captain with things further aggravating after the team failed to lose either of their first 3 matches against Gujarat Titans, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Rajasthan Royals. While Mumbai's performance has been indeed questionable, Hardik's performance has come under heavy question marks.
To get some love back from the fans, Hardik Pandya will have to first make sure that Mumbai Indians win their next matches and then ensure that his performance with the bat and ball remains impactful. The 5-time champions have a very good chance of winning their first match of the season when they welcome 9th-placed side Delhi Capitals, who conceded this season's 2nd-highest score of 272. The first one was conceded by Pandya's MI and it was another reason why the crowd in Wankhede constantly booed at the all-rounder.
But the best thing for Hardik Pandya and Mumbai Indians to do at the moment will be to forget the past and work hard to get results in their favor from their next match onwards. The entire team's focus should now be on Delhi Capitals how they can get their season off with a win and how they can start staging a comeback in the season.
Michael Clarke says Hardik Pandya should just focus on winning games and improving his performance
Michael Clarke had recently appeared in ESPN Australia's "Around the Wicket" show and therein he was asked to shed light upon fans booing Hardik Pandya. Clarke, who is currently on commentary duty with Star Sports for IPL 2024, stated that he spoke to Pandya about it and the all-rounder's confidence indicated that he won't be affected by this.
The 2015 Cricket World Cup-winning captain stated that fans have high expectations for MI and that they are disappointed in the fact that their team is currently sitting at the bottom of the table. Clarke also advised Hardik Pandya that he should be focusing on helping MI win games and also make sure he is performing well with the bat and ball.
"I spoke to Hardik when I got over here and he seems like he's going fine again. He's really a confident sort of a person. So he won't allow this to get to him but he does need to get this team winning games of cricket. Mumbai is such a good team and there are high expectations."
"The fans want them at the top of the tree but at the moment they're at the bottom of the tree. So, I think first and foremost, he just needs to concentrate on a team winning and him performing individually but it's been heavy, to be honest. To be at the ground and to hear the fans boo their captain." - Michael Clarke said via ESPN Australia.
Clarke sheds light on the time he was booed by Australian fans
Callum Ferguson, who is also a panelist in ESPN Australia's show Michael Clarke if he has been in a situation that Hardik Pandya currently finds himself in. To that, Clarke admitted that he had been in a situation like that during his playing days when he was walking out to bat as the captain of the team in a Test match.
"I have. I copped it at the Gabba one day captaining Australia. I got absolutely smacked when I walked out. Fans booing me and then I think I made a 100 and they stood and applauded as I walked off." - Clarke concluded.
