In another eventful day for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL, Hardik Pandya once again found himself under the spotlight, facing the wrath of the crowd at Wankhede Stadium, the team’s home ground. Since assuming the captaincy from Rohit Sharma, Pandya has been a target of unprecedented criticism on social media and in-person. As he stepped out for the toss in the IPL match against Rajasthan Royals on Monday, chants of ‘Rohit… Rohit’ echoed through the stadium, accompanied by boos directed at Pandya.
However, Pandya’s performance with the bat swiftly turned the tide, earning him cheers from the crowd. His quickfire 34 off 21 balls, including half a dozen boundaries, propelled Mumbai Indians from a precarious 20/4 to 76/5 in the 10th over, momentarily winning over the audience. Despite the hostile reception earlier, Pandya’s entertaining innings elicited enthusiastic support from fans.
Unfortunately for Mumbai Indians, they couldn’t capitalize on Pandya’s contribution, eventually losing the match by six wickets after posting a modest total of 125/9. Pandya, who took over the captaincy from Rohit ahead of the tournament, has been consistently targeted by disgruntled fans, evident in the previous matches at Ahmedabad and Hyderabad.
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The booing persisted throughout the match, even as Pandya lost the toss to Rajasthan Royals’ skipper Sanju Samson, prompting presenter Sanjay Manjrekar to intervene and urge the crowd to show restraint.
I was expecting this from Hitman. Rohit Sharma is a player who can Stop misbehaviour of crowds.
Well done Hitman. pic.twitter.com/5TZGK3fT8x— Satya Prakash (@Satya_Prakash08) April 1, 2024
Meanwhile, a poignant moment unfolded as Rohit Sharma, clad in training attire, shared a warm exchange with former teammate Harbhajan Singh, who was present as a commentator. Despite the ongoing drama, a video surfaced showing Rohit seemingly appealing to the crowd to cease booing Pandya, highlighting the camaraderie between the players amidst the turbulent atmosphere.
Amidst the fan fervour, Nish Navalkar, a member of the ‘North Stand Gang’ at Wankhede Stadium, expressed optimism that Pandya’s heroics on the field would eventually earn him adulation from the crowd, suggesting a potential shift in sentiment.
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Furthermore, confusion arose regarding the entry of fans into the stadium, with some banners reportedly confiscated due to a directive from the election commission. However, there were discrepancies in the implementation, leading to fans voicing grievances on social media.
Despite the tumultuous atmosphere, a few loyal fans managed to display their banners, underscoring the enduring passion and devotion surrounding the IPL matches at Wankhede Stadium.
