IPL 2024: 'Lose the game, smile & repeat same nonsense' - Steyn slams Hardik's comments after MI lose to RR

Match 38 of the IPL 2024 edition saw the table-toppers Rajasthan Royals (RR) demolish Hardik Pandya's Mumbai Indians (MI) by nine wickets while chasing180 in a rain-marred affair at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium in Jaipur on Monday (Apr 22).

MI opted to bat first and rode on Tilak Varma's 65 (45) and Nehal Wadhera's 49 (24) to post 179 for 9 whereas Sandeep Sharma shined with a brilliant 5 for 18. In reply, Yashasvi Jaiswal's unbeaten 104* and skipper Sanju Samson's 38* took their side home in 18.4 overs without dropping much sweat.

After the game, Hardikwas asked about his feelings in the post-match presentation. The MI skipper smiled and replied that it was not the right time to criticise his players as he said that everyoneis a professional in the team.

This hasn't been well received by South African legend Dale Steyn. Steyn seemed irritated with players using thecliched phrasesand not being honest in post-match interactions.

The former SA pacer wrote on X, formerly Twitter, "I really look forward to the day players might say what’s honestly on their mind. Instead we some how dumbed ourselves and our minds into saying the usual safe thing, lose the next game, smile and then repeat that nonsense again."

Here is his post:

Post MI's fifth defeat of the season, Hardik said, "Overall, we did not put the right foot on the park and eventually they outplayed us. After the game, it's not the right time to go to the players, everyone is professional, they know their roles. What we can do is learn from this game and the mistakes which we have made, rectify it and make sure that we don't make it. Progression is very important."

"Within the team, individually, we will have to accept our flaws and maybe work on those. I don't believe much in chip and chop, I like to back players and the focus would always be to play good cricket, sticking to our plans and making sure that we don't make the basic errors. Cricket is simple, as long as we keep it simple, it's nice," the MI captain added.

Hardik has also not been impressive with both bat and ball in the ongoing edition. He has 151 runs, at an average of 21.57 and strike rate of142.45, whereas he has only managed four wickets in eight games. MI are currently at the seventh place with only three wins from eight games.