Hardik Pandya missed his third consecutive game, but Shardul Thakur expects him back for Mumbai Indians against Kolkata Knight Riders next Wednesday. Ashwin emphasizes players need resilience to handle social media scrutiny during challenging periods.
Hardik’s absence is becoming a credibility crisis for MI’s leadership. Three games missed without clarity on injury status damages both the player and franchise. Ashwin’s thick-skin sermon ignores the real problem: Pandya’s Rs 15 crore price tag demands accountability, not philosophical lectures. If he’s unfit, say it. If he’s fit, play him. Ambiguity breeds contempt, not resilience. MI’s vagueness is worse than any social media pile-on.
Italian opener Emilio Gay, who has played three T20Is, received his maiden Test call-up to face New Zealand next month alongside Ben Duckett. Gay chose to drive 300 kilometers to personally share the news with his parents. The 27-year-old could have represented the West Indies but committed to Italy.
Italy’s Test cricket experiment just got real, and Gay’s 300km gesture masks a genuine problem: they’re rushing an inexperienced opener into the deep end against New Zealand. Three T20Is don’t prepare you for red-ball cricket. His West Indies rejection matters too—Gay chose Italy’s long-term project over immediate Caribbean opportunities. The gesture is touching, but Italy needs batting depth, not sentiment. This call-up feels premature.
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