“Hardik does not have to be Dhoni”- Aakash Chopra on Hardik Pandya’s captaincy ahead of 4th India vs West Indies T20I.

Ahead of the fourth T20I clash between India and the West Indies, the spotlight is on Hardik Pandya’s leadership as he takes the reins. Aakash Chopra, a well-known cricket analyst, has voiced his perspective on the matter, asserting that Pandya should not feel obligated to mimic the leadership style of his idol, MS Dhoni.

Set to unfold in Lauderhill, Florida, the upcoming match holds significant implications for both teams. With India seeking to clinch the series against the West Indies, all eyes are on Hardik Pandya, who played a decisive role in the third T20I by securing victory for the Men in Blue with a well-timed maximum.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel where he previewed the fourth T20I, Chopra highlighted an incident involving Hardik’s captaincy – denying Tilak Varma the opportunity to reach a half-century. While acknowledging the attention garnered by this incident, Chopra was quick to point out that Pandya need not feel obligated to mirror Dhoni’s decisions on the field.

Chopra said “Hardik Pandya has been trolled a lot. He has got a lot of criticism but then there is another school of thought that why are you making so much noise about a milestone? So he is in the middle of conversations.”

“I remember MS Dhoni defending a ball as he wanted Virat Kohli, who was at the other end, to finish it off. So that was Dhoni but Hardik does not have to be Dhoni. He doesn’t need to do or become like Dhoni even if he considers him his idol.”