Hardik Pandya’s inaugural season as captain of the Mumbai Indians (MI) has been filled with drama akin to a soap opera. The all-rounder took over the reins from the long-serving Rohit Sharma before the IPL 2024 players’ auction. However, the change in leadership at MI has not been well-received by fans, who have expressed their displeasure by booing Hardik during matches this season.
“I really like that Hardik Pandya” 🥹
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— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) April 14, 2024
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“I don’t understand booing. I kind of get it in the first game in Gujarat, because he played for them for two years and did not well as a captain. But then when he went to Hyderabad, I was like, ‘What’s going on.’ Then when he came back to Wankhede, his own home support was booing him. I did not understand that,” Vaughan said
‘India Need Hardik Pandya’
Former England captain Michael Vaughan shared his perspective on the situation, acknowledging the hostility from the Ahmedabad crowd in MI’s first game this season at the Narendra Modi Stadium, given Hardik’s previous stints with the Gujarat Titans. Vaughan also expressed surprise at the treatment Hardik received in Hyderabad and at the Wankhede Stadium.
“What Indian cricket fans need to understand is that Mumbai Indians are Indian fans and for India to win the T20 World Cup, they need Hardik Pandya. They need him to play well. So somehow, over the next few weeks, they need him to get that confidence level right up to the top level, because with India having Hardik flying, they got a great chance in lifting that trophy,” he added.
Further discussing the captaincy saga at MI, Vaughan opined that Rohit should have retained the captaincy of the franchise.
“I would’ve captained Rohit. Hardik coming back to MI is big enough pressure in itself, and Rohit is obviously going to be the Indian T20 captain. The sensible move would’ve been for Rohit to carry as MI captain with Hardik in mind for next year or 2,” Vaughan explained.
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