Gavaskar Highlights What Sets Hardik Pandya Apart as a Captain

Former captain Sunil Gavaskar praised Hardik Pandya’s captaincy for Mumbai Indias in IPL 2025. He has also expressed his wish to see MI win this season and become six-time winners.

Winning just one out of their first five games, MI had a slow start to the league. However, the Hardik Pandya-led team turned this around and won the next six matches.

‘This year they are all behind him’

Legend Sunil Gavaskar stated that now the Mumbai crowd is behind Hardik, as was not the case last year. Last season, the MI skipper was booed as the fans were displeased with how Rohit Sharma was stripped off his captaincy.

“What we saw from last year to this year has been the fact that he also got the support of the crowd backing him. Last year, he would have been a little bit unsettled by the fact that the Mumbai crowd and the Mumbai supporters were not really backing him so much.”

“But this year, they are all behind him. And they are all urging him to go on to win. They have got one game at home on the 21st,” said Sunil Gavaskar while replying to a Hindustan Times query during the Star Sports Press Room session.

Gavaskar Applauds Hardik’s On-Field Persona

“And that is where we will see how they come back. And the way they have come back, we are talking about his thinking, and we are talking about how his calming influence is. That is because he has not shown any emotions on the field. When there has been a misfield, when there has been a drop catch, he has just turned on his back and he has gone back to his fielding position.”

“A lot of times, when the captain has a little bit of gesticulations, then the fielder also gets a little bit nervous. But he hasn’t done that. And so that’s the reason why Mumbai have come back so well. They normally do that. And once again, this year, I am hoping, as a Mumbai Indians fan, that they will continue to go on to win,” he added.

Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025

MI is currently fourth on the points table with 12 points in 12 matches. They have two league macthes left – Delhi Capitals (May 21) and Punjab Kings (May 26).

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