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[Saba Sports News] Legendary South African cricketer AB de Villiers has criticized Hardik Pandya’s style of leadership at Mumbai Indians, suggesting that his “bravado” and perceived insincerity have not resonated well within the team. In his debut season as MI captain, Hardik’s performances failed to impress both with the bat and as a leader, culminating in MI being the first team eliminated from the tournament. Despite two remaining games, their situation remains bleak with no chance to advance beyond their current standings.
The decision to appoint Hardik as captain, replacing successful veteran Rohit Sharma, was controversial and met with disapproval from fans, some of whom booed Hardik during the early matches of this season. Despite outstanding individual performances from players like Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav, MI has managed only four wins in twelve games. De Villiers suggested that the change in captaincy might have negatively impacted the team dynamics.
On his YouTube channel, de Villiers expressed disappointment with MI’s performance, referencing Rohit Sharma’s recent comments about adapting to different captains as possibly indicative of underlying issues. De Villiers noted that while Hardik’s assertive, ego-driven leadership may have been effective at Gujarat Titans with a younger, less experienced team, it does not suit the dynamics of a seasoned team like MI, where established players like Rohit and Bumrah may find it harder to adapt to such a style.
De Villiers compared Hardik’s leadership to that of MS Dhoni, though he noted that such a bold, confrontational approach often fails to win over seasoned players. He drew parallels with former South African captain Graeme Smith, who led with a style that younger players were eager to follow. De Villiers reflected on his own playing days, acknowledging that sometimes players need to project confidence to overcome personal doubts or challenging situations.
He concluded that while Hardik understands the need to project confidence, it requires a special kind of respect and seniority to truly lead and inspire a team composed of highly experienced players.