'Shame that journalism and reporting has got so low' - AB de Villiers lashes out on media for misquoting his comments

Former South African batting great AB de Villiers has responded to the controversy surrounding his comments on Hardik Pandya's captaincy for Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 2024. De Villiers clarified that his remarks were misquoted and taken out of context. He opened up about his admiration for the way Hardik approaches the leadership role.

Pandya, who previously led Gujarat Titans (GT) to the IPL title in 2022 and took them to the finals in the 2023 edition, faced immense criticism when he took over the captaincy duties from Rohit Sharma at MI for the 2024 season.

De Villiers expressed disappointment at the misrepresentation of his comments about Hardik's captaincy. He clarified that he had previously stated his love for the way Hardik leads a team, but his words were misconstrued by certain journalists.

"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 (laughs). And I am very happy that some of you have pointed it out, taking some of those comments out and leaving the rest," AB de Villiers said in his YouTube show.

Also read: Rohit Sharma to retire post T20 World Cup, Hardik Pandya's selection made under pressure

I love the way Hardik Pandya plays his game: AB de Villiers

The former cricketer explained that his comments about Hardik's brave style of captaincy were not meant as criticism. Instead, he drew parallels with his approach on the field, where he adopted a more intense personality to intimidate the opposition.

"I very clearly stated and I will state this again, I love the way Hardik Pandya plays his game. I love the way he captains. All I can say is, his style of captaincy is something that he has certainly worked on. It's not something that you can just walk out of the door and you are a brave captain," he added.

"Why I said it's always not genuine is because I played the same way. I was not the soft-spoken, genuine AB de Villiers that I was at my home. The guy you saw on the field was in a way 'an act'. Sometimes, you have to put up a front and show the opposition that you are a force to reckon with. That's what Hardik Pandya does. I am saying that style is not always the easiest style to adapt to, especially for some senior players," De Villiers further added.

Also read: Gerald Coetzee heaps praise on Hardik Pandya’s leadership style

The former South African skipper even lashed out at the reporters who misinterpreted his statements about the 30-year-old all-rounder. "I love Hardik Pandya, that's what I said. To you reporters out there, I am sorry to burst your bubble," De Villiers concluded.

Despite MI's star-studded lineup, the five-time champions struggled under Hardik's leadership, becoming the first team to be eliminated from the tournament. They currently languish in the ninth position in the points table with just four wins in 13 matches.