After leading the Gujarat Titans for two seasons, Hardik Pandya was traded back to the Mumbai Indians (MI) prior to the 2024 Indian Premier League season. After playing for the five-time champions from 2015 to 2021, he rejoined them.
But when MI named Hardik as captain in place of Rohit Sharma, who guided them to five championships, they dropped a bombshell.
Following this call, fans were left perplexed, and Hardik was jeered by them during MI’s games. For the services that Rohit has provided to them since 2011, some fans believed that MI did not treat him with the deference he merited.
Rahul Chahar, a former MI leg-spinner, asserted that it is contingent upon the player-team dynamic. According to him, the player’s on-field performance shouldn’t be affected by anything that occurs between them and the team.
“Life continues. There will be new captains and each squad will get their turn. We are unable to discern such information. It concerns their relationship and the person they wish to appoint as captain. However, I believe that your contributions to the team are crucial. Rohit is awesome, even as a player. Unless you are in need of someone, everything is ideal. Giving it your all and not letting anyone see your face is, I believe, what MI wanted. In an exclusive interview with Filmygyan, he stated, “Not just MI, be it any team.”
His confidence-boosting style is crucial, in my opinion: Rahul Chahar
Chahar also talked about his experiences playing for Rohit. According to the former, Rohit is skilled at instilling confidence in his players.
“I think his confidence-boosting style is crucial. It is crucial for a leader to have faith in his players. He would put his arms on my shoulder and say weird things to me, not just about cricket, like “be chill,” when he saw my face and thought I was under strain. “He’s really laid back,” he remarked.
“As a leader, he is adept at managing everyone. He would say something reasonable to Bumrah instead of telling him the same thing. He is aware of which player should be relieved of pressure,” he continued.
Chahar had a disappointing performance in the first IPL 2020 qualifier between the Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians, giving up 35 runs in two overs without taking a wicket. After the match, the Haryana cricket player recalled how Rohit gave him confidence.
“I can never forget one incident. In 2020, we faced Delhi in the semifinals. I scored almost 30 runs off of two overs. After the game, I kept my head down. When Rohit arrived, he instructed me to take charge of the team and return. He told me that the season was fantastic overall, therefore it didn’t matter if one game wasn’t good. Come lead the way and take the lead. “He never fails to inspire us,” said the former MI spinner.
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