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Yuvaraja Karunakaran

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Kevin Pietersen Hardik Pandya MI vs CSK IPL 2024

"It's Affecting His Cricket And Something Needs To Happen" - Kevin Pietersen On The Ups And Downs Of Hardik's Captaincy

Source: IPLT20/Twitter

Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya has been under fire since the IPL 2024 season started. The star all-rounder was traded from Gujarat Titans to the five-time champions in an all-cash deal and has been slammed by the fans as he replaced former skipper Rohit Sharma in the role. However, after the MI vs CSK game, former England batter Kevin Pietersen recently came forward to opine that Hardik Pandya is trying to appear happy during his matches, but he may not actually be happy in reality. Pietersen drew from his own experiences to suggest that this is not a good situation for a player to be in. The booing seemed louder on Sunday for Hardik Pandya when he was taken to the cleaners by MS Dhoni in CSK's last over and after failing to finish the match for MI, thereby slipping to the 8th spot in the table.

Kevin Pietersen reflects on the Ups and downs of Hardik's captaincy

Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya was booed again by the home crowd in Wankhede as Mumbai Indians succumbed to their 4th loss in IPL 2024 on Sunday. On a two-match winning streak leading up to the match against defending champions Chennai Super Kings at home, Mumbai were the favourites to chase down 206, with the dew setting in. But stellar bowling from CSK fast bowlers, especially by Matheesha Pathirana in the middle overs, left MI 20 runs short despite a fighting century from Rohit Sharma.

After the MI vs CSK El Classico, Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen recently shared his opinion that Hardik Pandya may not actually be happy despite trying to appear so during his matches. Drawing from his own experiences, Pietersen suggested that this is not a good situation for a player to be in. On Sunday, the booing seemed louder for Pandya when he failed to finish the match for MI and slipped to the 8th spot in the table after being taken to the cleaners by MS Dhoni in CSK's last over.

"I actually think, with Hardik Pandya, everything away from the game is affecting him so much. He's smiling too much when he does the toss. He's trying to act like he is so happy. He is not happy. I have been there. I have been in the firing line. And I can tell you now, it affects you. If what's happening to Hardik Pandya," Kevin Pietersen said.

Furthermore, Pietersen addressed the boos that the MI captain faces in almost every IPL match this season, stating that, as an Indian player, the star all-rounder would not want to be treated like this, especially by his home crowd at the Wankhede Stadium. The former England batter also opined that the treatment by the fans is affecting Pandya's style of play.

"The boos we have been hearing just now, and I know they are happy to see former CSK captain, the lion smacking him all over the park, it hurts you. Because he has emotions. And he is an Indian player and he doesn't want to be treated like this. So, when this is happening, it's affecting him, it's affecting his cricket, and something needs to happen," Pietersen added.

Half-centuries from Ruturaj Gaikwad (69 off 40) and Shivam Dube (66* off 38) and Dhoni's cameo (20* off 4) took CSK past 200 after a slow start. In reply, MI could only reach 186/6, with former captain Rohit Sharma (105* off 63) being the lone warrior. Slinging sensation Matheesha Pathirana starred with the ball for CSK with figures of 4/28 in four overs. Following their win, the Super Kings maintained the 3rd spot on the points table with eight points from six games, while Mumbai slipped to 8th with four points from six matches.

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