Former South African fast bowler Dale Steyn expressed disappointment with players showing emotional restraint in interviews after wins or losses in IPL 2024. On Twitter, Steyn appeared to criticize Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya, who gave a measured post-match interview after MI’s poor performance against Rajasthan Royals on Monday, April 22.

After the loss, Hardik Pandya diplomatically avoided criticizing his players, stating it was not the right thing to do as they were all professionals. However, fast bowler Dale Steyn voiced frustration with players’ overuse of cliched phrases like “trust the process” and “sticking to the basics” in cricket.

He took Twitter (X) to express his disappointment-

Apart from MI’s poor batting, bowling, and fielding performance, Pandya himself had a lackluster match, scoring only 10 runs off 10 balls and then giving up 21 runs in his two overs. The MI captain stuck to his usual post-match analysis, saying the players understood their roles but were unable to execute them effectively.

“Overall, we did not start the game well and they eventually outplayed us. After the game, it is not the right time to criticize the players – everyone is a professional here and knows their role. What we can do is learn from this game and correct the mistakes we made, and ensure we do not repeat them. Improvement is very important,” Hardik Pandya said.

“As individuals within the team, we must acknowledge our weaknesses and improve upon them. I prefer supporting players rather than constantly changing the lineup. Our focus should always be playing quality cricket by adhering to our strategies and avoiding fundamental mistakes. Cricket is a simple game, and the key is keeping it straightforward,” he added.

The captaincy switch at MI has sparked controversy among fans since the start of the ongoing season, and the team’s lack of wins so far has put the new captain in a difficult position.

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