Rahul Dravid should come up with strict diktat after Rohit Sharma – Hardik Pandya IPL controversy

Indian cricket coach Rahul Dravid should lay down the law after all the hoopla around the captaincy saga in Mumbai Indians during IPL 2024. There was a massive fan backlash after Hardik Pandya was installed as the skipper of the five time champions. The move to remove Rohit Sharma didn’t sit down well with the Mumbai Indians fans. 

Rahul Dravid who is in his last assignment as the Indian coach has spoken about the entire controversy. During a conversation with ESPN CRICINFO, former India star Irfan Pathan implored the Indian coach to take strict measures. 

Hardik Pandya endured a miserable IPL 2024 tournament where he failed with the bat and also with the ball. The 30-year-old bounced back in fine style as he scored an unbeaten 40 during the only practice game against Bangladesh. 

Can Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya move past the controversy?

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and his national deputy Hardik Pandya have been in the eye of the storm for the last few months. The two were constantly under the spotlight as Mumbai Indians endured their worst ever IPL season as they finished last in the table. 

Irfan Pathan while speaking to ESPN CRICINFO said “The conversation of IPL shouldn't be happening, not even once. Don't talk about it, just focus on what Rahul Dravid wants from a particular player like Hardik Pandya or anyone else. Just make sure that they are focussed on that”

Matthew Hayden also seemed to agree with the former Indian star when he said “Without one word, you know who the leader is. Nothing has to be spoken. You look at each other, you understand what needs to happen and you go about it. It's music to my ears what Irfan just said, about how it is that you are not going to address it. Don't even talk about it”

Former Indian star Irfan Pathan concluded by saying “Australia doesn't have a celebrity culture. Fortunately or unfortunately, we have that. Ideally I would want a nice balance between Australian culture and Indian culture, where we come in between. Sometimes having that kind of a culture doesn't help us. But at the same time, we are what we are. We are not Australians. We are Indians. Our emotions, ethics and mindsets are different”