Fans have been expressing their frustration towards Mumbai Indians’ captain Hardik Pandya, especially since he took over the leadership of the franchise. The criticism intensified after Mumbai Indians failed to win their first three matches in the Indian Premier League under his captaincy.
Cricket experts, including former Indian pacer Irfan Pathan and legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, have been critical of Pandya for his on-field decision-making. However, Pandya found support from former Indian cricket team player Robin Uthappa, who was part of the 2007 T20 World Cup-winning team.
Robin Uthappa Comes Out In Support Of Hardik Pandya
Speaking about Pandya’s ordeal on The Ranveer Show, Uthappa said, “He is a guy who has got the calibre and potential to be an all-time great for Indian team. He was let go by the team which discovered him, he went to another franchise. After winning 3-4 titles with them, he left. He must have felt a little bad; that will be there. He went to GT, won a title and finished runners-up in another. Then the conversation began.”
He added:
“The mocking, trolling, the memes about his fitness. You don’t think it hurts him? It hurts him. It hurts any human being. How many people actually know the reality of it? Hardik is dealing with mental health issues, for sure. We, as people, I understand, as Indians, we are emotional. But it is not right to impose this kind of treatment on any human being. It is unbecoming as a society for us to do that to someone and be okay with it. We should not be laughing along with it. We should not be forwarding these memes.”
Further, Robin supported Hardik by stating that the all-rounder was right in securing his career. Uthappa said:
“It’s our job, yes it’s passion too, but it’s what puts the food on the table for me. My job is on display for you to criticise. A corporate person’s job is not on television to criticise, or have an opinion about either. When that is the case, you have to exercise a certain amount of empathy and dignity to the other person to allow them to fail. One of the most beautiful things we did as a country is our expression to love, and our reaction to our Indian team after we lost the World Cup. That’s how we should be as a society, and as Indians.”
