'Rohit Sharma didn't...' - Virender Sehwag blasts Hardik Panyda critics with a blunt statement

There have been a lot of comments in the ‘captaincy debate’ around the leadership of the five-time IPL champions, Mumbai Indians. The debate has been underway since the star all-rounder Hardik Pandya was appointed as skipper by the franchise after removing the former skipper, Rohit Sharma.

Meanwhile, the former Indian batter and now the cricket expert, Virender Sehwag has come up with a very ‘hard-and-fast-lined’ analysis while expressing his views on this ‘captaincy debate’. He also lashed out at the experts and former cricketers who have been constantly criticizing the MI’s decision to appoint Hardik Pandya as the captain of the team.

Here's what Virender Sehwag said

“I don't think (pressure is increasing on Hardik as a batter and bowler), although, maybe he is taking the pressure because of the expectations around him. But Mumbai was in the same situation last year, and many times previously as well. It is nothing new to them. Rohit did not score runs as a captain. He did not even win the trophy as captain in the last 2-3 seasons,” said Sehwag on Cricbuzz.

“Mumbai know that they have been in situations like these so only if they perform as a team here on, will they get...but if Hardik goes with the expectation that he has to bowl and bat well and that they are not winning under his captaincy and it sort of creates a pressure on him then that is wrong. And to perform well he has to bat higher up the order as well, right? If you bat down the order and get about 18 balls to face then how will he perform? He needs to give himself that chance because if he bats well, his bowling and captaincy will improve as well,” he added later.

Currently, the Mumbai Indians are struggling at number 7 of the points table of the tournament, with only 3 wins in the 8 matches and 5 defeats to their name. In the last match they played against RR, MI lost by 9 wickets and faced their fifth defeat in the tournament.