Steven Smith advises Hardik Pandya to disregard the negativity he’s facing from fans during the IPL. Smith’s counsel entails the act of mentally shutting out the boos and abuse directed at Pandya. Instead of letting it affect him, Pandya is encouraged to maintain focus and not allow the external criticism to distract him from his performance. This approach suggests a strategy of mental resilience, where Pandya prioritizes his game over the noise from the spectators.
Smith’s Advice:
Smith, previously subjected to continuous heckling worldwide for his involvement in the 2018 Newlands ball-tampering scandal, emphasized the importance of Hardik Pandya receiving support from his Mumbai Indians teammates. Notably, Rohit Sharma, who Pandya succeeded as captain for the IPL 2024 season after Sharma’s lengthy 11-year tenure, was singled out by Smith as a key figure in providing such support. This acknowledgment underscores the significance of team solidarity in helping Pandya navigate the challenges he faces.
He said, “I’d try and just say, to block it out, it’s all irrelevant. No one outside knows what you are going through. No one [from outside] is in that change room.”
Could the barrage of fan abuse, combined with pundit criticism of his captaincy during Mumbai Indians’ consecutive losses in IPL 2024, potentially harm Hardik’s morale? The convergence of external pressures might create adverse effects on his performance and mental state, warranting support and resilience from both teammates and Pandya himself to navigate through these challenges effectively.
Smith on His Tough Time:
Following his admission of “leadership failure” during the Newlands Test, Cricket Australia imposed a year-long ban on Steven Smith. Additionally, he was compelled to “step down” from his role as captain of the Rajasthan Royals during the IPL 2018 season. Smith disclosed that he regarded the heckling he encountered, including instances such as fans chanting “cheat” during the 2019 ODI World Cup in England, as mere “white noise.”
This term suggests that Smith perceived the negative attention as a background disturbance, opting not to let it disrupt his focus or affect his performance. Despite facing significant repercussions and enduring persistent criticism, Smith’s approach reflects a mindset of resilience and determination to overcome distractions and maintain his commitment to the game.
Smith’s Advice For Hardik:
Smith pointed out that Hardik might have been taken aback by the reception, as it’s uncommon for India‘s top players to face booing from fans. However, such instances are not unheard of, with cricket legends like Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, and Ravi Shastri having experienced similar treatment at different stages of their careers. This historical perspective highlights that even esteemed players have encountered challenges with crowd reactions, albeit sporadically.
Smith said, “Personally, for me, it doesn’t bother me. I don’t care. I don’t pay any attention. You know it’s all white noise, but certainly players do hear things and everyone’s entitled to their own emotions and how they respond to those.”
He also said, “So is it affecting him [Hardik]? Maybe. It’s possible. He probably hasn’t experienced that before in, in any walk of life. So it’s natural, I suppose, and particularly being in India and a star Indian player, to be in that position where some fans are booing you, it’s certainly something he wouldn’t have experienced.”
Smith’s View on Hardik’s Mistakes as a Captain:
Following a significant defeat against SRH, Mumbai Indians’ captain Hardik Pandya came under heavy scrutiny, with cricket experts dissecting his mistakes and strategic decisions. Steven Smith, commenting amidst the criticism, noted that Pandya had also made tactical errors in the match against Titans, not just in the encounter with SRH. Smith’s observation suggests a broader pattern of strategic missteps, indicating the need for Pandya to reassess and refine his approach as a captain in future matches.
Smith said, “I feel like he’s under a little bit of pressure. I think he’s made a few tactical errors in the first couple of games: batting himself a little bit low, probably in the first one, is my assessment. And then, in particular in the second one, [Jasprit] Bumrah only bowling one over in the first 13 overs was in my mind just a little bit mindblowing. He [Bumrah] is the best bowler in the world and to have only bowled one over when the team’s got 173 on the board in the 12th over, I was in disbelief, to be honest.
He added, “I’m sure he is going to learn from that. As a captain, you have to have plans in place for the start of the game. And clearly the plan was to bowl Bumrah straight up to Heinrich Klaasen. But you’ve got to shift your plans when things aren’t going well. And it didn’t look like they shifted. They sort of just kept doing the same thing. It was a bit of a blunder in his first outings.”
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