Mumbai Indians coach Mark Boucher and staff captain Hardik Pandya throughout a press convention in Mumbai, on March 18, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya on Monday stated his predecessor Rohit Sharma will proceed to be a guiding pressure for him throughout the IPL regardless of the surprising change of management that the franchise introduced forward of the upcoming season, triggering a “backlash” from the followers.
Pandya, who led Gujarat Titans up to now two seasons, is again at Mumbai Indians as captain for the 2024 version. Having led Mumbai Indians to 5 titles, Rohit was surprisingly changed by Pandya going into the upcoming season.
“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 that forward,” Pandya stated at a media interplay right here.
“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.
Pandya admitted his transfer of leaving the Gujarat Titans’ captaincy and changing Rohit on the helm in Mumbai Indians did upset a bit of followers.
“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 stated.
“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.
However, Pandya stated he has not met Rohit for the final two months or so and would solely be chatting with the previous skipper as soon as the squad will get into motion throughout the observe sport right here on Monday.
“Yes and no. He has been travelling and playing,” Pandya replied when requested if he has had a chat with Rohit.
“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 stated.
The star all-rounder will be making his comeback to top-level cricket with the IPL, having undergone a prolonged rehabilitation for the ankle harm he suffered within the ODI World Cup at residence in October.
“I have no issues with my body, I plan to play all the games. In IPL, I have not missed many games anyway. Technically, I was out for three months. It was a freak injury and it had nothing to do with my earlier injuries. I tried to stop the ball and ended up getting injured,” stated Pandya.
The 30-year-old received instantaneous success as chief of Gujarat Titans and after his return to the high-profile Mumbai franchise, he will be anticipated so as to add one other silverware to their trophy cupboard.
“Expectations will always be there in Mumbai Indians. We must focus on the process. I cannot win tomorrow, we will have to wait for two months and see how we prepare, how we get together. We will play a brand which everyone will enjoy,” he stated.
Head coach Mark Boucher, who was sitting alongside Pandya within the media interplay, was additionally requested about Rohit and his function going ahead.
“Rohit has been in fantastic form. Looking forward to Ro going out and expressing himself. We watched him bat against England. He has been batting fantastic,” stated Boucher.
The Mumbai Indians coach hoped that the quantity of cricket that the squad members have performed in current months would maintain them in good stead within the IPL.
“Thankfully, there has been a lot of cricket that has been going on. So, the guys have played a lot of cricket. We are in a very good position from the players’ perspective. The guys have been in good form as well,” he stated.
“Obviously, there are injuries which you have to manage. It’s about trying to find roles for the new faces in the team. We are in a good position as a team. We are trying to give direction to the whole squad as to how we want to play,” added the previous South African cricketer.
