‘It needed better…’: Ravi Shastri on Mumbai Indians captaincy row | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Former India coach Ravi Shastri has weighed in on the controversy surrounding Hardik Pandya‘s appointment as captain of the Mumbai Indians.
He suggested that clearer communication from the franchise could have prevented the fan backlash. Speaking on Star Sports’ ‘Cricket Live Show’, Shastri stated, “This is not the Indian cricket team that’s playing. This is franchise cricket.They have paid top dollar. They are the bosses. It’s their entitlement as to who they want as captain. Okay, where I think this could have been handled better was with more clarity in communication.”

“If you wanted Hardik Pandya as captain, then say that we are looking at the future. We are looking to build. Rohit has done a fabulous job, as everyone knows, and we want him to help out Hardik in these next three years as the team progresses,” Shastri remarked, advocating for a more explicit communication strategy from Mumbai Indians.

Shastri advised Pandya to remain composed amid the criticism and focus on delivering solid performances on the field. He expressed confidence that once Mumbai Indians start winning matches, the negative chatter will subside.
“At the end of the day, nothing beats results. You win matches, and things will change… A lot of it is just planted on other people’s names, including my name,” Shastri added, addressing the rumors and speculation surrounding the team’s dynamics.
Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden echoed Shastri’s sentiments, acknowledging the fans’ strong attachment to Rohit Sharma, who served as MI captain for 11 years. Hayden suggested that involving Rohit in the decision-making process could have mitigated the backlash.
“See the fans are the biggest stakeholders in this and they often don’t have the politics, the insights, but they want to understand this, they love Rohit Sharma. There’s going to be no getting around that,” Hayden remarked, highlighting the fans’ affection for Rohit.
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Hayden emphasized that it’s premature to judge Pandya’s leadership based on just three matches and urged against drawing conclusions about his performance and the team’s dynamics. He underscored the importance of considering the broader context and giving Pandya more time to settle into his new role.
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MI are scheduled to play their next match against Delhi Capitals at the Wankhede Stadium on April 7.
(Inputs from PTI)