Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar showered praise on Hardik Pandya’s captaincy after Mumbai Indians registered a 12-run win against Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Sunday. MI’s former captain Rohit Sharma, who was replaced by Karn Sharma as impact player, asked Hardik to introduce the leg-spinner.

Manjrekar praised the MI captain for listening to Rohit’s suggestion and believes the pundits would have blamed Pandya if the move had not worked.

However, Karn Sharma returned with impressive bowling figures of 3-36 in the four overs he bowled. The experienced leg-spinner accounted for KL Rahul, Abishek Porel and Tristan Stubbs in his match-winning spell. Thus, he was awarded Player of the Match after MI successfully defended the target of 206.

“There are many people who are there to give suggestions but it all depends on the person in the middle who has to take the decision. He (Hardik) listened to the advice (from Rohit) is the biggest thing. If you give Rohit credit here as well and not Hardik Pandya, it would be the wrong thing. If the suggestion had failed, you would’ve blamed Hardik,” Manjrekar said on Star Sports.

Manjrekar urged the cricket fraternity and social media to give due credit to Hardik Pandya for playing a key role as a leader in MI’s win.

“It’s quite easy to give suggestions from outside. The entire credit for this (victory), should go to Hardik Pandya. Considering how emotional he has been (over Mumbai’s recent results), it was an important win for him. It has been quite a difficult journey for him. Would be wrong if social media and others say that Mumbai Indians won because of Rohit Sharma’s suggestions. Hardik Pandya is the captain, and he is the one taking decisions, no matter who is giving suggestions,” Manjrekar added.

Mumbai Indians will next take on Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Thursday.