Riyan Parag shows faith in Hardik Pandya for T20 World Cup 2024

Hardik Pandya's stint as captain of the Mumbai Indians (MI) during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season proved to be challenging. 

The all-rounder, who was traded from the Gujarat Titans and took over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma, faced significant criticism both online and at the stadiums, which impacted his performance.

Under Pandya's leadership, MI struggled throughout the season, finishing last on the points table. Pandya himself had a tough time with the bat and ball, managing only 216 runs in 14 matches at an average of 18, and taking 11 wickets at an average of 35.18.

Despite his underwhelming IPL performance, Pandya received support from the cricketing fraternity. Riyan Parag, who was not selected for India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad, came to his defense. Speaking on a podcast, Parag dismissed comparisons between himself and Pandya, highlighting Pandya’s significant contributions to Indian cricket.

"I am nowhere near Hardik Pandya, first of all. Hardik has done insane things for our country. People forget that in a jiffy. Hardik has won you games in the World Cup and has won you trophies, so let's not even compare me and Hardik,"Parag said.

Parag, who played for Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the IPL 2024, recalled a conversation with Pandya after a match at Wankhede Stadium where RR triumphed over MI. He sought Pandya's advice on handling criticism and scrutiny.

"All I was talking with him [Hardik] was how he was dealing with it [scrutiny], how I should be dealing with it if I was in a similar situation and basic cricket in general. That's all I was talking about. He is one of the best cricketers in the world right now," Parag explained.

In a positive turn of events, Pandya showed signs of returning to form during a warm-up game against Bangladesh at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. He scored 40 runs off 23 balls and took one wicket for 30 runs, leading India to victory.

As the T20 World Cup approaches, Pandya will have numerous opportunities to shine. India's campaign begins against Ireland on June 5, followed by a high-stakes match against Pakistan on June 9, and subsequent games against the USA on June 12 and Canada on June 15 in the group stage.