Hardik Pandya “Smiling Too Much, Acting Like He’s…”: England Great Hits Bullseye

It isn’t the same Hardik Pandya that left Mumbai Indians two seasons ago or the same person who led Gujarat Titans to two consecutive finals in the Indian Premier League. Hardik, as the captain of the Mumbai Indians, has remained pretty ordinary while his bowling and batting skills have also left much to be desired. As Indian cricket great highlighted all the wrongs Hardik did in the match against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday, former England captain Kevin Pietersen also joined in, highlighting the lapses in his captaincy decision as well as execution as a batter and a bowler in the middle.

Pietersen, in a chat on Star Sports, highlighted how Hardik should’ve bowled spinners sooner in the game as the pace bowlers were leaking plenty of runs.

“What I saw this evening was not good enough. I saw a captain that had a plan A from a team meeting that was five hours ago and the captain didn’t want to go to Plan B when he should have. How on earth have you not bowled a spinner when your seamers are going for 20 runs?! Brain Lara was saying on commentary, ‘Can we please bowl spinners?’ They have spinners that can bowl. You need to change the pace of the game,” he said.

Pietersen also feels that it’s the off-field issues, referring to the crowd outrage over Hardik replacing Rohit as the Mumbai Indians captain, that is affecting the India all-rounder. The England great wants the issue to be resolved quickly as it is leaving a deep impact on Hardik.

“I think with Hardik, everything away from the game is affecting him so much. He’s smiling too much when he does the toss. He’s trying to act like he’s so happy. He’s not happy! I’ve been there. I’ve been in the firing line and I’ve been there proper! I can you that it affects you. What’s happening with Hardik Pandya… the boos we have been hearing now and how happy they are to see Dhoni smacking him all over the park, it hurts you. He has emotions, he’s an Indian player. He doesn’t want to be treated like this. With this happening, it’s affecting him and his cricket. Something needs to happen,” said the former batter.