Criticism Has Broken Hardik Pandya's Spirit, Says Mark Boucher

Mumbai Indians' head coach, Mark Boucher, revealed that Hardik Pandya's morale has been severely impacted by the criticism he has faced during the ongoing IPL season. Following Mumbai Indians' early exit from the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League, Boucher shared his insights on the toll this has taken on Pandya.

From the outset, Mumbai Indians struggled in this season's IPL, ultimately finishing at the bottom of the table. Hardik Pandya, who led the team, faced significant challenges and widespread criticism, which Boucher believes has deeply affected him.

"Hardik has been criticized so much that it has broken his spirit," Boucher said. "This criticism has also greatly impacted his decision-making during matches." Despite these difficulties, Boucher emphasized that the Mumbai Indians' dressing room fully supported Pandya.

The decision to appoint Hardik Pandya as captain was contentious from the start. His performance as a batter this season was below expectations, scoring only 216 runs in 14 matches at an average of less than 18, and taking 11 wickets at an economy rate of 10.75.

Boucher added, "Everyone in the Mumbai Indians' dressing room has supported Hardik Pandya. Many have tried to help him overcome these challenges. However, it's not easy for a cricketer to adapt to such situations. This experience will teach Hardik a lot and make him a stronger captain in the future. Right now, the time is indeed very tough. If he can get through this, Hardik will emerge as a stronger leader. I hope something good is waiting for him as captain."

The coach also praised Rohit Sharma, who had a strong season as a batsman, scoring 417 runs at an average of 32.06 with a strike rate of 150, including a brilliant century against Chennai Super Kings.

Despite finishing at the bottom of the points table, Boucher remains optimistic. "This is certainly something we have to address as a franchise, and I'm sure we will," he acknowledged.

Looking ahead, Rohit Sharma is set to lead the Indian team in the upcoming T20 World Cup, with Hardik Pandya as his deputy. Mumbai fans struggled to accept the significant change in leadership this season, which led to Hardik facing boos throughout the tournament. However, Boucher believes these experiences will ultimately strengthen Hardik's leadership skills.