The announcement of Hardik Pandya returning to Mumbai Indians from Gujarat Titans before the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season stirred discussions within the cricketing community. Hardik Pandya served as the captain of GT in the previous two seasons, leading them to the final on both occasions. They secured their inaugural title in 2021 and were runners-up the following year after losing to Chennai Super Kings in the final. Despite this success, Pandya’s unexpected move back to MI prompted a reaction from Indian fast bowler MD Shami.
In response to a question about the situation with Hardik Pandya no longer captaining GT, MD Shami commented in an interview, “Kisike jane se kisiko farak nahi padta (See, it doesn’t matter who is leaving). You have to see the team’s balance. Hardik was there, he captained us well. He took us to the final in both editions and we won once. But Gujarat hadn’t signed Hardik for a lifetime. It’s his decision to stay or leave. Shubman is made captain now, he will also gain experience. Some day, he might also leave. And it’s a part of the game. Players come and go.”
Discussing the responsibilities of a captain, MD Shami emphasized the need to handle the role while maintaining individual performance. He expressed confidence in Shubman as the new captain and advised him not to worry too much, stating, “You need to manage players well and extract the best out of your players.”
Shifting focus, MD Shami, along with archers Ojas Pravin Deotale, Sheetal Devi, and Aditi Gopichand Swami, and wrestler Antim Panghal, received the Arjuna Award at Rashtrapati Bhawan from the President of India, Droupadi Murmu.
The Arjuna Award, India’s second-highest athletic honor, is conferred in recognition of outstanding performance over the preceding four years, coupled with demonstrated qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, and discipline. In the year 2023, a total of 17 athletes were honored with the Arjuna Awards, among them being pace sensation MD Shami. He concluded the previous year’s ICC Cricket World Cup in India as the leading wicket-taker, securing 24 scalps and setting numerous records.
A day before the ceremony, the seasoned fast bowler expressed his joy at receiving the prestigious accolade, emphasizing that even after years of dedicated effort, many individuals struggle to attain this award. In his words, “This award is a dream; life passes, and people are not able to win this award. I am happy that I have been nominated for this award. It is like a dream for me to receive this award because throughout my life, I have witnessed many deserving individuals being honored with it,” shared MD Shami.
