Hardik Pandya ended IPL 2024 with 216 runs in 13 innings at an average of just 18.00. He only managed 11 wickets. As captain, Mumbai only won four games. (PHOTO: PTI)
After Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2024 campaign ended with another defeat, team’s head coach Mark Boucher admitted that the MI faithful’s reaction to the change at the helm in captaincy had affected them. Before the IPL 2024 season started, Mumbai Indians changed their captain: handing over the reins to Hardik Pandya. This angered fans, who were miffed by the treatment of long-time captain Rohit Sharma, who led the team to five IPL titles.
“I think that if (Hardik) was here, he’d also be disappointed in his performances (in the season). From a captain’s perspective, I thought he had some good games. There’s a lot of stuff going on around him that maybe clouded his thoughts every now and again, which I said is tough for him as a leader as well,” said Boucher after Mumbai lost their final game of the IPL to the Lucknow Super Giants by 18 runs.
Mumbai ended the season at the bottom of the 10-team standings, with eight points from their 14 games. Hardik Pandya’s woes didn’t end with the end of the Mumbai Indians’ season. He has been banned for IPL 2025’s first game due to Mumbai’s slow over rate against Lucknow Super Giants at the Wankhede Stadium.
Lot of sympathy for Hardik Pandya
What’s worse was that the MI captain was also booed in the game on Friday at Wankhede Stadium. This treatment of Hardik, even at Mumbai’s home venue has remained unchanged the whole season.
“It wasn’t great hearing all the boos,” Boucher said. “Certainly, I felt sorry for Hardik as well. It’s never nice to go through something like that.
“Hardik certainly had a lot of support within our dressing room but it’s a tough thing to go through as a player. There’s a lot of sympathy for what he’s going through. A lot of the stuff he is going through is, I think, uncalled for. It will certainly be a learning curve for Hardik as he grows in leadership. While times are tough now, a couple of things will pass and make him a tougher leader and it will certainly grow him in the role as well. I still think there are some fantastic things coming from Hardik Pandya as a leader.”
Hardik ended IPL 2024 with 216 runs in 13 innings. He managed an average of just 18.00 and at a strike rate of 143.04. With the ball, he claimed 11 wickets in 12 innings at an economy rate of 10.75.
Boucher added: “There are certain things we need to address. And we are going to address them. Now is not probably the right time. Everyone is very disappointed and emotional, so no good decision will get made in the nearest sort of time. We need to go back. We need to evaluate exactly what’s going on.”
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