Chennai: Mohammed Shami, the leading pace bowler in the Indian cricket team, has openly criticised Hardik Pandya’s captaincy of the Mumbai Indians team. In an interview with Crickbuzz, Shami expressed his concerns about Pandya’s leadership after their defeat to the Gujarat Titans in their first match of the season.
Mohammed Shami, who was Hardik Pandya’s teammate at the Gujarat Titans for two years, emphasised the importance of responsibility in a captain’s role. He pointed out that Hardik Pandya, who had previously batted at numbers three and four for Gujarat, is now batting at number seven for the Mumbai Indians. Shami believes that this change is putting unnecessary pressure on Hardik Pandya himself and affecting the team’s performance.
Moreover, Shami suggested that Hardik Pandya could learn from players like Pat Cummins on how to handle captaincy responsibilities effectively. He also dismissed comparisons between Hardik Pandya’s batting style and that of MS Dhoni, stating that each player has a unique approach to the game.
Mohammed Shami further expressed surprise at Pandya’s decision to bowl the first over in Mumbai’s match against the Gujarat Titans. He questioned why Jasprit Bumrah, known for his bowling prowess, was not given the opportunity instead. However, Shami speculated that Pandya’s preference for bowling with the new ball might have influenced his decision.
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