IPL 2024: Hardik Pandya needs to win over MI dressing room, says Laxmipathy Balaji

Former Indian pacer Laxmipathy Balaji believes Hardik Pandya needs to win over Mumbai Indians dressing room. Pandya returned to MI after leading Gujarat Titans for two seasons with great success in the IPL. The all-rounder led MI after taking the baton from Rohit Sharma but the team lost the opening clash of the season against the Titans by six runs.

Pandya was also booed by the Ahmedabad crowd at the toss time against GT. The all-rounder went wicketless in the three overs he bowled and also conceded 30 runs.

Pandya was dismissed after scoring a 4-ball 11 in the end. The right-hander was dismissed on a short delivery by Umesh Yadav in the final over.

“It’s been going on for a while, definitely it’s not normally something which you see, a lot of friendships happen, players have gone to different franchises, yes this is one of the cases, but being in a professional field you have to accept that one side is emotional and one side is something very big, when you come to replace a personality like Rohit Sharma who is already a phenomenal achiever when it comes to Mumbai Indians. Definitely, it will take some time, it will settle,” L Balaji said during a press interaction arranged by Star Sports.

“And you have to win your own men, so for Hardik to win the whole dressing room is very important as a player and as a human so definitely that trust needs to be earned and it will take some time to adapt and accept,” Balaji added on the matter.

Balaji added Pandya is perfectly capable of changing things and getting the best out of his players. Pandya has all the leadership experience under his belt and will aim to get the job done for MI.

“I’m sure he’s good enough and professional enough and he’ll accept that and he’s got a young team around him and when they start winning the emotions will be different. If they start losing, then you have problems to face. So slowly things will pop up. It’s better to have a friend in a winning front rather than a losing front,” concluded the former pace.

Mumbai Indians will next take on Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on Wednesday.