As per the reports, HardikPandya’s ‘match awareness’ comment on Tilak Varma further divides the MI dressing room
Ever since Rohit Sharma was removed from the captaincy of MI and Hardik Pandya was handed over the reigns of the team, it has been hard-going for them. Now, the effect of that is in front of everyone, where the side is currently in the ninth spot and out of the IPL 2024 playoffs already.
As per a report, some of the senior members of the team have questioned the functioning of MI under Hardik Pandya.
The report further states that the same has been conveyed to the coaching staff. Meanwhile, an MI official maintained that this had nothing to do with Hardik but was only a result of players getting used to Rohit’s style of leadership.
“These are regular teething problems for a team that sees leadership change. This happens in sports all the time,” he said.
The report speaks about the senior players meeting the coaching staff following a match. The group included Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, and Suryakumar Yadav. The reasons for MI not doing well were discussed at the dinner table. This is understood to have happened after the match vs. the Delhi Capitals, where skipper Hardik pointed fingers at Tilak Varma for lacking match awareness.
Hardik told the broadcasters, “When Axar Patel was bowling to a left-hander, Tilak, the better option could have been to go after him. I think it was just a little game awareness that we missed out on. At the end of the day, that cost us the game.” And this comment didn’t go down well in the dressing room.