Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya found himself amidst intense scrutiny as he grappled with criticism from MI supporters following the team’s recent string of defeats in the IPL 2024.
Returning to the helm after replacing the five-time IPL-winning skipper Rohit Sharma, Pandya faced mounting pressure from fans. However, former two-time World Cup-winning Australian all-rounder Shane Watson advised Pandya to disregard the external noise.
Shane Watson’s advice for Rohit Hardik Pandya
Watson emphasized Pandya’s ability to thrive under pressure by maintaining focus on his skills and leadership qualities. He urged Pandya to adopt a mindset that shielded him from the surrounding distractions, allowing him to perform at his best.
For Hardik, the one thing that he’s done so well throughout his career is been able to just shut out the noise, put his blinkers on, just put his headphones on and just focus on his ability to be able to execute his skill under immense pressure — and he’s done that,” Watson told Jio Cinema.
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Highlighting Pandya’s prowess as a cricketer and leader, Watson stressed the importance of creating a mental bubble that was impervious to external influences. This, he believed, would enable Pandya to excel on the field and lead his team effectively.
“He is such an incredibly skilled cricketer and he’s a great tactician and a great leader. So, he just needs to shut out the noise that’s obviously all around,” said Watson.
“And he does need to put his headphones on and not allow any of that noise that’s around the grounds to be able to penetrate his bubble. That’s when he’s at his best, that bubble is bulletproof,” Watson added.
As Mumbai Indians sought to reverse their fortunes following three consecutive losses, Pandya’s resilience and ability to block out criticism were crucial. Despite their current position at the bottom of the league standings, MI aimed for a turnaround when they faced Delhi Capitals at home on April 7th.
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