“Hardik Pandya couldn’t really gain the respect of everyone around him in IPL 2024” – Russell Arnold on all-rounder’s captaincy snub

Former Sri Lankan batter Russell Arnold reckons Hardik Pandya couldn’t really gain the respect of everyone around him in IPL 2024 while leading Mumbai Indians for the first time. Pandya took over the captaincy baton from five-time IPL winning captain Rohit Sharma but could not lead from the front.

The all-rounder had savored great success while leading Gujarat Titans, taking the franchise to glory in IPL 2022 and the final of IPL 2023. However, Pandya could not replicate the same show for MI.

Pandya scored 216 runs in 13 innings at an average of 18 and picked 11 wickets at a high economy rate of 10.75 in the lucrative tournament.

“Well, both are exceptional players. They bring different things to the party. Suryakumar Yadav is probably one of the better T20 batters going around and the way he plays it, he obviously has to see and read the game like no one else. Hardik has also shown that. But I reckon with how the IPL went and whereas Hardik couldn’t really gain the respect of everyone around him, might have prompted BCCI to look in a different direction,” Arnold said on Sports Tak.

“It’s about getting everyone to gel and keeping everyone calm and happy so that you can pull in the one direction. I’m not saying that wouldn’t have happened under Hardik, but I guess, at this particular moment, it was a good opportunity and it’s a great opportunity for Suryakumar to showcase what he can do and make it his own.”

On the other hand, India chief selector Ajit Agarkar revealed that they wanted to back a player for the captaincy role, who is available more often than not, and thus they have appointed Suryakumar Yadav as the new T20I skipper.

“But in regards to Hardik (Pandya), he’s still a very important player for us and that’s what we want him to be that player that he can be because those sorts of skill sets are very difficult to find what he has. Fitness, obviously, has been a challenge for him over the last few years and then it becomes a little bit more difficult for him and even as selectors. The fitness is a clear challenge and we want someone who’s likely to be available more often than not.”

India will take on Sri Lanka in the opening T20I at Pallekele on Saturday.