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The Hardik Pandya Rage In 2022 That Saw GT Captain Almost Cross The Line With Shami

Soumyajit Dutta

Hardik Pandya and Mohammed Shami [Source: @mdalfaaz/X.com]Hardik Pandya and Mohammed Shami [Source: @mdalfaaz/X.com]

The DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai was buzzing on April 11, 2022, as the Gujarat Titans failed to defend a modest 162 against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. 

Yet, beneath the surface of this IPL thriller, simmered a tense moment that would expose the fragile dynamics between captain Hardik Pandya and his pace spearhead Mohammed Shami, a clash of personalities that threatened to crack the Titans' united facade.

Hardik's Fury At A Dropped Chance

The match was a nail-biting one for sure, with the stadium packed and Pandya wrapped in his own nerves. The heat was palpable throughout the field. With SRH cruising at 104/1 in the 13th over, Pandya, frustrated after being hit for two sixes by Kane Williamson, bowled a short ball to Rahul Tripathi. 

The batter mistimed an upper cut, sending the ball looping toward Shami at deep third. Instead of charging forward, the seasoned pacer hesitated, allowing the ball to drop safely for a single.

Pandya’s reaction was volcanic. Cameras caught the skipper gesturing angrily and animatedly, his face contorted in disbelief. Pandya's facial expressions were a bit demoralising for someone who was senior to him at that time. 

Shami Later Opened Up About The Incidence

Shami, one of India’s most respected pacers, wasn’t about to take the public reprimand lightly. Sources revealed that after the match, Shami confronted Pandya privately. 

Two years later, Shami opened up about the incident. "I usually don’t respond, but when things get too bad, I speak up. We’ve known each other for 10 years. Hardik later said, ‘I swear, I don’t know what I’ve said.’ But crores watch us—we must control emotions," Shami said in a YouTube video for a podcast with Shubhankar Mishra.

Could Hardik Have Handled It Better?

The incident highlighted Pandya’s combustible captaincy style, which is a mix of passion and impetuosity. While he had masterfully built GT’s "family culture," this moment revealed cracks. Contrast this with Mohammed Shami’s stoicism. The veteran chose diplomacy over drama, addressing the issue without fracturing the dressing room.

Well, Pandya’s intensity had driven GT to the 2022 IPL title, but leadership isn’t just about fire, it’s about knowing when to temper it. Though the duo patched things up, the moment remains a cautionary tale about ego clashes in high-pressure sports.