Hardik Pandya doesn’t deserve retribution

During my stay in the USA residing with my younger daughter I found myself drawn more towards watching the Indian Premier League IPL as my soninlaw and daughter are ardent fans of the tournamentTheir knowledge about the participating players far surpasses mine However as the excitement grew in the buildup to Ball One I couldnrsquot help but notice the perplexing behaviour of the Mumbai crowd Irsquom referring to their unwarranted booing directed at Hardik PandyaOn All Fools Day I found myself pondering over whom they are attempting to deceive or if they have been misled by the decision of the Mumbai Indians owner to appoint Hardik as captain thereby replacing the immensely successful Rohit SharmaRohit a Team India captain having won a tough Test match series against England recently donrsquot let the 41 margin lead you to thinking it was a walk in the park has been instrumental in bringing glory to Mumbai Indians leading the team triumphantly and contributing significantly to the construction of the Mumbai Indians brandOne would expect that such a pivotal decision as changing the captain would have been thoroughly deliberated upon by the owners in consultation with the professionally employed think tank of the Mumbai Indians However it appears that the professionals involved may have simply gone with the flow to appease the owners rather than having the courage to provide them candid and forthright assessmentsAs professionals it is imperative to offer honest analysis of situations especially when considering the replacement of a captain as accomplished as Rohit Itrsquos crucial to recognise the invaluable contributions of players like him who not only excel on the field but also serve as ambassadors for the team bolstering its brand and fostering a dedicated fan base who invest their time and resources in supporting the teamThe backlash faced by Hardik from the crowd isnrsquot solely directed at him but indirectly implicates those responsible for his appointment as captain The top management of the team was undoubtedly aware of the ramifications of their decision underscoring the repercussions of surrounding oneself with individuals who prioritise pleasing superiors over providing comprehensive and objective insights regardless of the consequencesMy sympathy extends to both Hardik and Rohit as they bear no fault for the unnecessary division created by the negative reactions of the crowd Such behaviour detracts from the enjoyment of genuine cricket enthusiasts who attend matches in anticipation of witnessing exhilarating contests between bat and ballIf indeed Hardikrsquos elevation to captaincy depended upon conditions unrelated to his cricketing prowess such as his transfer from the Gujarat Titans to Mumbai Indians it stands as a regrettable transaction Being subjected to trolling by fans of two teams reflects poorly on the decisionmaking process and highlights the adverse outcomes of prioritising factors beyond cricketing meritI greatly admire Hardikrsquos attitude often citing it as a model for the players I mentor His resilience and determination exemplify qualities that transcend mere talent demonstrating that success in cricket is achievable through sheer grit and perseveranceLook at the way he batted on Monday night when his team were in a crisis He not only soaked in the pressure of his team reeling at 204 which included a firstball duck from the great Rohit but he was also able to put behind the booing he was subjected to when he walked out for the toss with rival skipper Sanju SamsonHardik is tough as nails Yes his team didnrsquot end up opening their account in this edition of the IPL and are winless after three games but that is the nature of the gameFor those who vehemently oppose Hardikrsquos leadership and engage in booing and trolling perhaps the most effective course of action would be to abstain from attending Mumbai Indians matches altogether thereby sending out a clear message to the team management Such a unified stance would likely resonate more profoundly than merely filling the stadium with dissenting voices It would ultimately prompt greater introspection within the Mumbai Indians camp1983 World Cupwinning swing bowler Balvinder Singh Sandhu is now a reputed coachSend your feedback to mailbagmiddaycomThe views expressed in this column are the individualrsquos and donrsquot represent those of the paper