NEW DELHI: Former
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
superstar
AB de Villiers
clarified his remarks about
Hardik Pandya
's captaincy style during the Mumbai Indians' disappointing performance in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL).
The former South African captain expressed frustration over the misrepresentation of his comments and emphasized that he admires Hardik's leadership approach.
"I see there is a lot of activity on X about the comments I made about Hardik Pandya and Mumbai Indians. And it's a shame that journalism and reporting has got so low. And I am very happy that some of you have pointed it out, taking some of those comments out and leaving the rest," said the former RCB star, lashing out at the misinterpretation of his remarks about the current MI captain.
De Villiers explained that Hardik's captaincy style is something the all-rounder has worked on, and it's not an innate trait. He drew parallels to his own playing style, stating, "Why I said it's always not genuine is because I played exactly the same way. I was not the soft-spoken, genuine AB de Villiers that I was at my home. The guy you saw on the field was in a way 'an act'. Sometimes, you have to put up a front and show the opposition that you are a force to reckon with. That's what Hardik Pandya does."
Earlier, the RCB legend acknowledged that Hardik's captaincy approach might not be the easiest for senior players to adapt to. Despite the challenges, de Villiers reiterated his admiration for Hardik's leadership and playing style, saying, "I love Hardik Pandya, that's what I said. To you reporters out there, I am sorry to burst your bubble."
ALSO SEE: IPL 2024 POINTS TABLE
Pandya joined Mumbai Indians in a surprising trade deal before the 2024 IPL season, leaving behind Gujarat Titans, whom he led to the title in 2022 and a runner-up finish in 2023. However, under Hardik's captaincy, MI have struggled in the
IPL 2024
season, currently languishing in the 9th position out of 10 teams, with only four wins from 13 matches.
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