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In the 2022 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) Hardik Pandya took on the role of leading the Gujarat Titans (GT) with an extra dose of energy and enthusiasm. While his spirited leadership was evident, it also led to a notable incident during a match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) when Hardik, upset after a ‘lousy’ attempt in the field, lashed out at Mohammed Shami.
Unveiling the on-field episode with Hardik Pandya: Mohammad Shami’s revelation
In a recent podcast on Instagram with Gaurav Kapur, Shami, who is currently on the road to recovery from an ankle injury, openly discussed the incident where Pandya expressed his frustration on the field. The right-arm pacer revealed that he felt uncomfortable when Pandya lashed out at him during the IPL 2022 game against SRH. Shami at that time did not hold back, emphasizing that he conveyed his displeasure to both Pandya and the team management.
Shami’s assertion: Disliking on-field criticism
During the podcast, Shami made it clear that he doesn’t appreciate being criticized on the field, especially in front of cameras capturing every player’s move.
“Once Hardik had reacted aggressively towards me. At that time, I had told him ‘Bhai, Bahaut badi zimmedari hai. Management bhi aaya tha mere paas. Mai bolne wala insan hu nahi. Mai kisi se matlab hai nahi. Mujhe abhi job se matlab hai. Mujhe mere kaam se matlab hai. Lekin mujhe ye gande reactions, screen pe nahi chahiye. Aap kuch kaho, mai kuch kahu, fir team ke mahaul pe baat aa jati hai. Toh woh create nahi karna hai. Us din ke baad usne kuch react nahi kiya (‘Brother, it’s a huge responsibility. Even the management had approached me. I am not a confrontational person. I don’t care about anyone. Right now, my concern is my job. I care about my work. But I don’t want these unpleasant reactions on the screen. You say something, I say something, and then it affects the team environment. That’s not something we want to create. After that day, he didn’t react anymore,” Shami was quoted as saying by ZeeNews.
Also READ: IPL 2024: RCB coach Andy Flower unveils the logic behind acquiring Alzarri Joseph and Yash Dayal in auction
IPL 2024 to witness Shami vs Pandya battle
Looking ahead to IPL 2024, the cricketing landscape has witnessed a significant shift. Shami, on the path to recovery, will now find himself bowling to Pandya, not in the nets but in the matches. The transfer of Pandya from GT to Mumbai Indians (MI) in an all-cash deal adds an intriguing layer to their dynamics as Shami prepares to face the challenges of bowling to the MI captain in the upcoming season.
