Former Australian cricketer Tom Moody expressed his confidence in Hardik Pandya’s leadership as captain of the Mumbai Indians for IPL 2024. However, Tom Moody warned Hardik Pandya about the challenges of captaincy, stating that criticism could arise after some defeats.

In IPL 2024, Mumbai Indians will embark on a new chapter under the leadership of Hardik Pandya. The dynamic all-rounder, where he began his IPL career, took over as captain after a dramatic trade deal with the Gujarat Titans before last year’s mini-auction.

The 30-year-old will succeed veteran captain Rohit Sharma, who guided MI to five titles in the tournament. The announcement sparked a debate on social media, with even Ritika Sajdeh criticizing coach Mark Boucher’s explanation for Rohit’s removal as captain.

Hardik Pandya is a highly respected cricketer – Tom Moody

Speaking on ESPNCricinfo, Tom Moody emphasized Hardik PandyaThe advantage of having a strong team and receiving support from Indian and foreign players. Moody advised Hardik to handle situations carefully, especially if the team faces early losses.

Pandya is familiar with the pressure of captaincy, having led the Gujarat Titans for two successful seasons. He led GT to their first IPL victory in 2022 and guided them again to the finals last season, where they narrowly missed out on the title to Chennai Super Kings.

Hardik Pandya is tactically sound – Tom Moody

However, in Mumbai, Hardik Pandya will captain a team consisting of top Indian superstars. Mumbai Indians’ star-studded lineup includes established Indian talents like Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav.

Tom Moody praised Hardik Pandya’s tactical prowess and anticipated support from both Indian and foreign senior players. Moody expressed confidence in Pandya’s ability to lead effectively and highlighted his decision-making skills.

“When you’re winning, you can make the craziest decisions and people still turn them into great shots. Hardik has the credentials as the leader of the Gujarat Titans, he is tactically sound and will be supported by all the senior players, both Indian and foreign.” Moody said.

Pandya brings leadership experience having captained the Indian cricket team. The right-arm pacer led the team in three ODI matches, securing two wins and one loss. Under Pandya’s leadership, the Men in Blue won 10 out of 16 matches in T20 internationals.

Hardik Pandya will begin his captaincy tenure with Mumbai Indians against his former team Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on March 24. MI will then take on Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals in the early stages of IPL 2024.

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