'If you go and see their records, it's worse than any other leader': Gautam Gambhir tears apart AB de Villiers for comments on Hardik Pandya

AB de Villiers, KKR mentor Gautam Gambhir and Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya (File Photo: Getty Images, X: KKR)
AB de Villiers, KKR mentor Gautam Gambhir and Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya (File Photo: Getty Images, X: KKR)

Highlights:

Under Hardik Pandya's captaincy, Mumbai Indians have suffered nine losses.

AB de Villiers has clarified his comments on Hardik Pandya's captaincy.

It has not been an ideal homecoming for Hardik Pandya. Leading Mumbai Indians (MI), Hardik could not make an impact with bat or ball and some of his captaincy decisions were questionable as well. Former South Africa captain had criticised Pandya’s style of captaincy calling it “ego-driven in a way, chest out”. Responding to De Villiers, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor Gautam Gambhir has bashed the former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter. He said that Pandya needs time to deliver for MI as captain.
 

"It's not important what experts are saying, it's their job to say something or the other. My opinion has always been that you judge someone's captaincy by his team's performance. If MI had performed well (this year), all experts would have been praising him. Today MI have not performed well and that's why everyone is talking about it," Gambhir said on Sportskeeda.
 

"It's important to realise that Hardik Pandya has come from some other franchise so it takes time, give him some time. Suddenly, you expect him to deliver at Mumbai, after captaining for two years at Gujarat. He could have delivered, I am not saying he couldn't have but if he hasn't, it's fine, give him a bit more time," he added.
 

Gambhir also targetted former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen and questioned their captaincy. He does not want them criticising the Indian all-rounder.
 

"Judging him every day, every match, everything is not right. Those experts who have criticised him, they should see their own performances when they have captained a side. Whether it's AB de Villiers or Kevin Pietersen. I don't think in their career there is any performance of leadership, nothing. If you go and see their records, it's worse than any other leader," the 42-year-old said.
 

"So, you should compare oranges to oranges, not apples to oranges," he concluded.
 

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AB de Villiers says his comments were misinterpreted 

However, De Villiers had issued clarification on his comments and also lashed out at the kind of journalism which sensationalises comments. 
 

“I see there is a lot of activity on X about the comments I made about Hardik Pandya and Mumbai Indians. And it's a shame that journalism and reporting has got so low. And I am very happy that some of you have pointed it out, taking some of those comments out and leaving the rest," he said. 
 

MI’s last game of IPL 2024

Under Pandya's captaincy, MI have faced nine defeats from 13 games. They will face KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their last league clash of the season at Wankhede Stadium on May 17.
 

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