Pietersen Blasts Pandya's "Fake Happiness": Is the All-Rounder Under Pressure?

The English cricketer Kevin Pietersen has used schooling words for Mumbai Indians slogger Hardik Pandya who has been booed by the fans every time they are seen at Wankhede Stadium. Despite all the celebrations Hardik Pandya had in Mumbai after being elected the team's captain, fans were unhappy about the franchise choosing him over Rohit Sharma, joint IPL most successful captain.

"What I saw this evening is not what satisfied me. We had a captain who had a strategy from the meeting which was more than five hours ago and the captain didn't want to go to Plan B when he should have. Where in the sky have you been to not even bowled a turn when your pitch spin averages 20 runs?! Brain Lara commented, ‘Please when can we play a spinner?’ They have spinners who can bowl. He remarked, "You Have to change the nature of the game."

Kevin Pietersen Statement:

Additionally, Pietersen feels that the issues on the ground like the crowd erupting against Rajasthan Royals over Hardik’s captaincy of Mumbai Indians, is also a contributory factor for Hardik. Verma wants it to be a prompt action as it was affecting the player psychologically.

"I genuinely believe that Hardik Pandya is being greatly impacted by things outside of the game. When he tosses, he attempts to look very delighted by smiling excessively. He is not content. I have experienced that. He knows that I've been in the firing line, and I can now tell you that it has an impact on you because I've been there and experienced the firing line firsthand.

It stings because Hardik Pandya is an Indian player and he has feelings. Consider the taunts we've only started to hear about him and how delighted they are to watch the previous captain of CSK, the lion, MS Dhoni, slapping him all over the field. Furthermore, he objects to this kind of treatment. He is so being impacted by this as it is occurring. Something needs to happen because it's impacting his cricket," he said in closing.