The Mumbai Indians’ captaincy transition saga continues into the IPL 2024 season, with Hardik Pandya taking over from Rohit Sharma. As the BCCI unveiled the schedule for the first half of the T20 league, fans eagerly awaited Hardik’s debut as Mumbai Indians’ captain in Ahmedabad following his high-profile move from the Gujarat Titans. Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra even jokingly remarked that he hopes Hardik gets booed by the Ahmedabad crowd.
There has been extensive discussion surrounding the captaincy change at Mumbai Indians, with Ritika Sajdeh, Rohit Sharma’s wife, also expressing strong sentiments in response to coach Mark Boucher’s explanation of the situation.
Hardik, since assuming the captaincy of MI, has yet to publicly address the matter of replacing Rohit Sharma. Some speculate that even fans in Ahmedabad may feel disappointed to see their captain Hardik departing from the franchise. Chopra anticipates that these fans might express their discontent on the field.
Back at it 🤙 pic.twitter.com/5qC3l3iX8c
— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) February 15, 2024
“I want Hardik Pandya to get booed in Ahmedabad. I’ll tell you why. First IPL season, Mumbai vs Kolkata. We were playing at the Wankhede Stadium. Ajit Agarkar was in our team and we had to take him off the boundary because he was Mumbai’s boy, playing against Mumbai, in Mumbai and getting booed by the Wankhede crowd. So we put him back inside the circle because it was not nice,” Chopra said on Jio Cinema as the IPL 2024 schedule was announced by the BCCI.
Chopra felt that things would definitely get interesting if Hardik’s former supporters start to jeer him when he lands in Ahmedabad.
“Now Hardik Pandya goes to Mumbai after winning the championship once, leading the team to the final the next time. And not just that but choosing to leave the franchise. If there isn’t any heartburn in the public of Ahmedabad, if they don’t feel hurt, where is the fun? I am expecting. No, I am hoping – don’t tell anyone – that Hardik goes for the toss and people go ‘Boo’. That’s where the league matures,” the former India opener added.
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