Hardik Pandya faced a challenging reception upon his return to Ahmedabad for an IPL match, marking his first appearance in the city since assuming the captaincy of the Mumbai Indians. Despite leading the Gujarat Titans in the previous two IPL seasons, the dynamic Indian all-rounder made a sensational return to the Mumbai Indians via a trade deal. However, his decision to depart from the Gujarat-based franchise sparked criticism, with many labelling him disloyal for leaving the team.
Although Pandya excelled as captain during his tenure with the Gujarat Titans, his move back to his original IPL team, the Mumbai Indians, led to the dismissal of Rohit Sharma from the captaincy position. This decision to replace Rohit Sharma garnered its own share of controversy, further putting Pandya under scrutiny.
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Returning to the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad for the first time after joining the Mumbai Indians, Pandya likely anticipated a warm reception from the Gujarat fans for his previous captaincy achievements.
🚨 Toss Update 🚨@mipaltan won the toss and elected to field against @gujarat_titans
Watch the match LIVE on @JioCinema and @StarSportsIndia 💻📱
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#TATAIPL | #GTvMI pic.twitter.com/SD45ApFufX
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 24, 2024
However, he was met with a different reality as the crowd expressed their discontent by booing him during the toss and throughout his appearance. Reflecting on his return to Ahmedabad, Pandya expressed mixed emotions: “It feels good to be back. My roots lie in Gujarat, and I’ve experienced a lot of success here. I’m very grateful to the crowd and this state. Although my cricketing journey began in Mumbai, it’s really special to return here.”
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Under Pandya’s leadership, the Gujarat Titans clinched the title in 2022, marking a historic achievement in their inaugural IPL season. Despite falling short in the 2023 final against the Chennai Super Kings, Pandya’s departure prompted the appointment of Shubman Gill as the new captain for the Gujarat Titans.
