The anticipation surrounding Hardik Pandya’s return to his former home ground turned into a moment of amusement during the clash between Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans. A viral video captured the Mumbai Indians skipper being ignored by a dog that unexpectedly intruded onto the field during the first innings. As Pandya prepared to bowl his third over in the 11th over, the curious canine approached him but swiftly retreated upon seeing him.

This amusing incident quickly spread across social media platforms, sparking a flurry of reactions from netizens. Many humorously compared the dog’s indifference towards Pandya to the reception the cricketer received upon his return to the Mumbai Indians camp.

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Despite the lighthearted moment, Pandya’s homecoming as the new MI skipper faced mixed fortunes on the field. While he showcased his athleticism in the field and made astute captaincy decisions during the first innings, his bowling performance left much to be desired. Conceding 30 runs in three overs at an economy rate of 10 runs per over, Pandya struggled to contain the opposition’s batting onslaught.

Even dog ignored this Hardik 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/OCZgaR9Ua3

— nipun mahajan (@NiPuN_045) March 24, 2024

In contrast, Pandya effectively utilized the services of Jasprit Bumrah, who delivered a stellar performance by claiming three crucial wickets and conceding just 14 runs in his four overs. Bumrah’s impeccable variations, particularly his lethal yorker deliveries, proved instrumental in stifling the hosts’ batting lineup.

However, Pandya’s reception from the crowd was less than favourable. As he stepped onto the field for the toss as Mumbai Indians’ skipper, the audience expressed their discontentment with the franchise’s decision, evident in the audible boos directed towards Pandya during the coin toss.

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This sentiment may have been influenced by the sentiments expressed by cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra, who suggested that the Ahmedabad crowd should mock the former skipper upon his return to the Narendra Modi Stadium. Consequently, Pandya found himself in the unfamiliar position of being perceived as a less favoured figure on the field.