Hardik Pandya spoke about the backlash from the fans after the Mumbai Indians replaced Rohit Sharma as captain for the 2024 IPL season.
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Pandya on replacing Sharma as captain
Pandya, 30, said Sharma will guide him throughout his captaincy.
The move came as a surprise since Pandya recently returned with the Indians after his two-season stint with Gujarat Titans.
“It will not be any different, he will always be there to help me. You mentioned that he is the captain of the Indian team, which helps me because this team, what it has achieved, it has achieved under him “…from now onwards, it is (about) what he has achieved, I just have to carry forward that,” Pandya said.
“I don’t think it will be any awkward or any different. It will be nice feeling because we have been playing for 10 years. I have played my whole career under him and he is going to have his hand on my shoulder throughout the season,” he added.
Fans’ backlash
Pandya understands the fans’ backlash, since Sharma has been the undisputed captain for Mumbai, but he remains focused on the task at hand.
“The backlash…To be very honest we respect fans but at the same time, we focus on the sport and what is required. I focus on the controllables and I do not focus on what I cannot control,” Pandya said.
“At the same time, we are very grateful to fans. A lot of fame and love comes from them and they have every right and I respect their opinion,” he added.
The all-rounder admitted he has yet to talk to Sharma, but he will do once the practice game starts.
“We are professionals, by the time the team comes together…we have been playing cricket…it has only been a couple of months that we have not seen each other. Whenever the IPL starts, which is from today since we have the practice game, once he comes, we will definitely have a chat,” he said.
