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Despite the Mumbai Indians' opening match loss to the Gujarat Titans (GT) on Sunday, March 24, their new captain Hardik Pandya, asserted his leadership from the get-go. A now-viral video captured a moment during the GT's innings at the Narendra Modi Stadium where Pandya directed Rohit Sharma, the former Mumbai Indians captain, around the field. This came as a surprise to Rohit, who is often seen fielding within the 30-yard circle. The newly appointed MI captain Hardik displayed his animated leadership style as he meticulously adjusted the field placements for the final over during the GT's innings. Intrigued by the strategy, the video shows Pandya requesting Rohit to move from his usual position within the 30-yard circle to a deeper fielding position near the boundary rope. Pandya didn't stop there, he guided Rohit to shift even further to the right, ensuring apt positioning for bowler Gerald Coetzee. However, Rohit, who for moment was surprised by Hardik ushering him to the boundary rope, displayed a real team's man spirit, seen obeying his newly recruited captain.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE…
Tensions simmered after the MI's loss defeat in their IPL 2024's campaign opener. Hardik sending former MI skipper to boundary rope didn't sit well with the fans, as some of them took offense at the positioning of Rohit during the final over. This sparked social media backlash aimed at Hardik, the current captain.
Hardik Pandya's men go down to GT
Ironically, Rohit even displayed his commitment to the team by securing a rare deep catch in the eighth over. He snagged Shubman Gill's mistimed shot off Piyush Chawla's bowling, proving his dedication. Hardik's homecoming wasn't as warm as he might have anticipated. Ahmedabad crowd was seen booing him during the toss. This reaction likely stemmed from his trade away from the Gujarat Titans, the team he captained to victory in 2022 and a runner-up finish in 2023. His return to Mumbai Indians seems to have ruffled some feathers among the Ahmedabad fans.
In a disappointing season opener for the Mumbai Indians, Hardik's men fell short by just six runs against the Gujarat Titans. Chasing a modest target of 169, their batting faltered in the end. A strong start was undone as they lost their last five wickets for a mere 32 runs, failing to chase down the remaining 43 runs in their final five overs.
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