‘When I went to the nets...’ - Veteran journalist Vimal Kumar sheds light on how Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya broke the ice

India headed into the T20 World Cup with Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya still being the point of focus. The two stars as per reports weren’t on talking terms during the IPL 2024. The decision to strip Rohit Sharma as the skipper ahead of the season didn’t go down well with the majority of the Mumbai Indians team and fan base. 

Noted journalist Vimal Kumar was recently a guest on the ‘Two Sloggers’ Podcast. During the chat, Vimal Kumar spoke about how Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya started to speak once more. 

Vimal Kumar said, “When I went to the nets, I noticed what was going on between Hardik and Rohit. On the first day, they didn't speak and were away from each other,” but the veteran scribe noted a marked change in approach the very next day. 

Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya played key role in India’s ICC Title win 

Vimal during the chat said that it was Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya who took it upon themselves to clear the air. They could be seen having a long chat with each other and then began putting the issues behind them. 

“But by the second day, I saw them come over, one after the other, and sit together in a corner, talking for a long time. That moment for me defined this team. There was no camera there; nothing. The way Rohit and Hardik were talking, I was like 'What am I watching?” said Vimal Kumar. 

The journalist also added, “There is so much going on in India with the public talking about their differences. After that, for the next three days, Rohit and Hardik would bat parallelly. And then Rohit would point out about his batting, bowling. When I saw that atmosphere and thought if they addressed such a complex issue, the elephant in the room. That vibe I saw demonstrated how relaxed the team atmosphere was.”

The veteran scribe also added how Rahul Dravid played a key role in bringing the stars together. “The full credit goes to Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma for this. The way he handled the big guys – Virat, Hardik, Rohit – I think Rahul Dravid has a lot to do with it. Everyone gelled together. That was the leadership I had confidence in,” he added.