In a surprising turn of events, Hardik Pandya, the seasoned cricketer, faced a chorus of boos from spectators during his captaincy debut for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2024 match against the Gujarat Titans. This reception was unexpected, especially for an Indian player in his home country, as noted by former England skipper Kevin Pietersen. Despite Hardik’s history with the Gujarat Titans, where he led the team to victory in 2022 and to the runners-up position in 2023, his return to Mumbai Indians seems to have stirred some unrest among GT fans.
During the match commentary, Pietersen expressed his surprise at the boos directed towards Hardik, highlighting the rarity of such treatment for an Indian player in India. He noted that every time Hardik was near the ball, the boos reverberated throughout the stadium. This unusual reception raises questions about what Hardik can do to win back or impress the fans in Ahmedabad, as posed by former West Indies cricketer Ian Bishop during the commentary.
Despite the unsettling start as captain, Hardik Pandya showed his mettle by scoring crucial runs for Mumbai Indians. However, his efforts were not enough to secure a win against the Gujarat Titans. With this defeat, Mumbai Indians will be looking to bounce back in their upcoming match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Hardik’s performance as both a player and a leader will be crucial in steering the team to victory and winning over the fans who once cheered for him.
