Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan stated that he doesn’t feel Hardik Pandya is fully committed to Indian cricket. Pathan also raised questions about Hardik being named India's vice-captain for the T20 World Cup 2024 and said that Jasprit Bumrah was a more suitable candidate for the job.
Hardik Pandya, who led India's departure from the 2022 T20 World Cup, has come under fire as the new Mumbai Indians captain in the upcoming IPL 2024 season, with the five-time winning franchise presently ninth in the 10-team points table.
“Previously, Hardik Pandya held the captaincy, but Rohit Sharma took over for T20 matches. Post T20 World Cup, there was a new plan; they aimed for a younger team with Pandya and Surya as potential captains. Yet, questions arise regarding Pandya’s performance, consistency, and commitment to Indian cricket,” Pathan told Star Sports.
The 39-year-old furthermore ripped into Pandya’s credentials.
“Regular participation in domestic cricket is essential for serving Indian cricket throughout the year. Injuries are inevitable, but proper planning involving consistent match play, including domestic cricket, is vital for a player’s return. But then there’s this one player who returns from injury without fulfilling the same requirements. That shouldn’t happen because it sends the wrong message to the rest of the team. When they see one player receiving special treatment, it disrupts the team environment,” he added.
Irfan Pathan then made a case for a different player as India's vice-captain and named Jasprit Bumrah as his choice. Bumrah has been Test vice-captain and even captained India in a Test against England in 2022. The pacer also captained India in T20Is in Ireland last year on his comeback.
Pathan said, “I understand the rationale behind it due to the importance of continuity in leadership. However, considering the current performance, the selectors opting for continuity may be understandable. Yet, I believe someone like Bumrah wouldn’t have been a bad choice either.”
Irfan Pathan, who was Player of the Final in India’s 2007 T20 World Cup win, criticized the culture of certain players being given undue advantage over others, something he also noted during India’s previous T20 World Cup campaign.
“Cricket isn’t like tennis; it’s a team sport where equality is vital. Every player should be treated fairly and equally. Regardless of whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned player like Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli, cricket is a team sport first and foremost.
I’ve witnessed things in the past, particularly during the T20 World Cup last year, that went against the principles of Indian cricket—instances where certain players were given undue advantage, which is unacceptable. To succeed in tournaments like the World Cup, it’s imperative that every player is treated fairly and equally,” he added.
India will kickstart their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on June 5 in New York.
