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Outspoken ex-batter Sanjay Manjrekar wants Mumbai Indians to drop Hardik Pandya from captaincy \u2013 handing the role instead to Jasprit Bumrah. Their playoff hopes vanished after a crushing defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, decided on the final delivery. Despite being five-time winners, the team has managed only three victories this season. Public and expert backlash over Hardik\u2019s leadership has grown sharp and loud. Speaking with Sportstar, Manjrekar insisted it is time for fresh thinking at the top; let their leading fast bowler step into command.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d like to see Bumrah captain India, because I don\u2019t think anyone sees the game as well as he does. What he does with his bowling is not just about the action, it\u2019s also about anticipation, reading the batter, reading the situation and understanding pitches. I\u2019m just a little disappointed that he doesn\u2019t seem interested in being captain in England. He didn\u2019t captain when Shubman Gill was made captain. But hopefully, at least in the Indian Premier League, he should get that shot,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Out of nowhere, Manjrekar brought up how MI might\u2019ve done better grabbing Ashish Nehra too during that big swap for Hardik. With Hardik on board, Nehra stepped into the spotlight, both steering Gujarat Titans straight into an IPL crown.<\/p>\n
You\u2019re right on track with where my thoughts were headed. Looking past Hardik Pandya could be necessary now. That choice just did not pay off so far. He deserves better than being tied into something unfair. Almost feels automatic \u2013 once one thing happens, the rest follows. If Hardik made the trip to Mumbai, surely bringing Ashish Nehra along would\u2019ve made sense. Yet here\u2019s the thing \u2013 Ashish isn\u2019t joining him at all<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d really like to see Bumrah being given a shot because that is not as much of a burden on him as being a Test captain, where he has to stay fit and ready for every Test match,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n