Fans started targetting Hardik Pandya since Mumbai Indians announced him as Rohit Sharma’s successor in IPL.
New Delhi: Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya responds to Wankhede booing after MI skipper got trolled during the toss in the ongoing clash against Rajasthan Royals. This is Hardik’s 200th game for the franchise and when Sanjay Manjrekar asked about his feelings towards the franchise he responded ‘It’s nice to get love from the crowed’ with a cheeky smile on his face.
Fans were booing Hardik while he was having that conversation with Manjrekar. Here is the clip.
feel for those 50 kohli and dhoni fans who were trending we support hardik pandya
here is the constant Rohit Rohit chant and boo at hardik pandya pic.twitter.com/yZX6OBZbRo
— (@RofiedAyush) April 1, 2024
The reason behind Hardik being viciously targeted by fans mainly stems from his switch from Gujarat Titans, a team he captained to IPL 2022 win and IPL 2023 final, to Mumbai Indians, who gave him his first big break in the tournament.
What has also added more fuel to the brutal fan anger towards Hardik is him replacing five-time IPL winning captain Rohit Sharma as the MI captain ahead of IPL 2024, shortly after his switch to the team was confirmed in November 2023.
At this point of time RR have won the toss and opted to field first against MI. Here are the playing XIs of both teams.
Mumbai Indians (Playing XI): Ishan Kishan(w), Rohit Sharma, Naman Dhir, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya(c), Tim David, Gerald Coetzee, Piyush Chawla, Akash Madhwal, Jasprit Bumrah, Kwena Maphaka
Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson(w/c), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Nandre Burger, Yuzvendra Chahal