Australian batting sensation Steve Smith has advised Hardik Pandya to disregard the crowd noise in IPL 2024, deeming it irrelevant. However, Smith, aged 34, acknowledges that individuals vary in their ability to handle such criticism.
Following Hardik’s appointment as Mumbai Indians (MI) captain for IPL 2024, there was a significant backlash across social media platforms. The 30-year-old also faced boos from spectators in the two matches he has led Mumbai Indians.
During an interview on ESPN Cricinfo’s Time Out, Smith remarked that few people are concerned about others’ internal struggles. The seasoned player shared his own encounters with handling such situations, emphasizing that he pays little attention to them.
He said: “I’d try and just say, to block it out, it’s all irrelevant. No one outside knows what you are going through. No one [from outside] is in that change room. Personally, for me, it doesn’t bother me.”
“I don’t care. I don’t pay any attention. You know it’s all white noise, but certainly players do hear things and everyone’s entitled to their own emotions and how they respond to those.”
Smith also suggests that the noise might be taking a toll on Hardik, given that he may not have experienced anything comparable previously. He further stated:
“So is it affecting him? Maybe. It’s possible. He probably hasn’t experienced that before in, in any walk of life. So it’s natural, I suppose, and particularly being in India and a star Indian player, to be in that position where some fans are booing you, it’s certainly something he wouldn’t have experienced.”
The cricketer from Baroda has also failed to perform with the bat in the two matches. He had a chance to secure victory for Mumbai against the Gujarat Titans but was dismissed for 11 off four deliveries. In the high-scoring match against the SunRisers Hyderabad, he was out for 24 off 20 balls.
“It’ll be interesting to see the reception at their first home game”- Steve Smith
Smith also acknowledged the immense pressure Hardik is facing to fill big shoes but expressed confidence in his ability to handle it going forward.
“Hardik is in the middle of a challenging time, losing the first two games their IPL season. It’s a big one for him. He’s filling big shoes with Rohit Sharma, who’s been the most successful captain [with Dhoni] in IPL history, lifting five titles, and it hasn’t started well for him.”
“So he’s under a little bit of pressure at the moment and it’ll be interesting to see what the reception’s like in their first home game at Wankhede in a couple of days.”
On April 1, Mumbai Indians will take on the Rajasthan Royals in their inaugural home match.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
