Hardik Pandya | Source: X/Twitter
Former Indian pacer Praveen Kumar has ripped apart the recently appointed Mumbai Indians skipper, Hardik Pandya, accusing him of putting the IPL ahead of national and state-level cricket.
Having once represented Mumbai Indians, Praveen Kumar didn’t mince words while speaking about the Indian all-rounder.
Praveen stated that despite a three-month recovery period, Pandya chose not to play for either his national team or his state team, Baroda, in order to prioritise his fitness for the IPL.
In addition, Praveen Kumar also accused Hardik Pandya of prioritizing financial gain above all else.
“You got injured two months before the IPL, you don’t play for the country, you don’t play for your state in domestic cricket, and just directly play in the IPL. That’s not how things should be done. It’s okay to earn money; there’s nothing wrong with that. But it’s not good to neglect your cricket for state and country and only give importance to the IPL,” Praveen said in a viral video.
Notably, Hardik Pandya, who steered Gujarat Titans to victory in the IPL 2022, and guided them to the finals in the IPL 2023 season, rejoined Mumbai Indians under the stipulation that he would be appointed captain—a promise Mumbai Indians fulfilled, sacking Rohit Sharma from the role.
Meanwhile, Praveen Kumar has voiced his opinion that Mumbai Indians management should have backed Rohit Sharma, under whose leadership the team secured five IPL titles, insisting he should have retained the captaincy.
“Yes, Rohit can do it. Not only for one year, but he can do it for two years, three years. But eventually, the decision lies in the hands of the management,” the 37-year-old added.
Watch Video: Praveen Kumar Criticizes Hardik Pandya for Putting IPL Over Country
