Fans brutally slammed Hardik since he was announced as Rohit’s successor for the MI in the ongoing IPL season. Despite his poor form, Hardik will be Rohit Sharma’s deputy in the T20 World Cup 2024.

New Delhi: Former South Africa skipper Ab de Villiers slams for misrepresenting his comments about Hardik Pandya and the all-rounder’s captaincy for Mumbai Indians in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2024. Former RCB star why he believes Hardik does not come across as genuine when he is leading the 5-time champions and recalled how he used to be more intense on the field to make a statement to the opposition.

MI are the first franchise that got out of the tournament in the ongoing season under Hardik’s leadership. Hardik has also been unable to perform well in the ongoing season he just scored 200 runs and got 11 wickets. In his last two seasons as Gujarat Titans captain, he scored 833 runs and 11 wickets.

“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 (laughs). And I am very happy that some of you have pointed it out, taking some of those comments out and leaving the rest,” AB de Villiers said in his YouTube show on Monday, May 13.

“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. I am saying that style is not always the easiest style to adapt to, especially for some senior players.

“I love Hardik Pandya, that’s what I said. To you reporters out there, I am sorry to burst your bubble,” De Villiers added.

Fans brutally slammed Hardik since he was announced as Rohit’s successor for the MI in the ongoing IPL season. Despite his poor form, Hardik will be Rohit Sharma’s deputy in the T20 World Cup 2024.