Hardik Pandya's reign as the new Mumbai Indians (MI) captain has gotten off to a rocky start in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. After a high-profile transfer to MI for the 2024 IPL season, Hardik's MI have unfortunately suffered back-to-back defeats. Their struggles began against Hardik's former team, Gujarat Titans (GT), where MI fell short in the season opener. This loss was particularly tough as it meant facing criticism for failing to outplay his old team. Things only got worse in Mumbai Indians' next match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). SRH went on to smash the IPL's highest-ever total, further adding to MI's woes. Hardik's team heads back to Mumbai for their first home game at the iconic . The Men in Blue will be looking to turn things around when they host the Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the iconic Wankhede Stadium.
Beyond the on-field challenges, Hardik has also faced a hostile reception from fans. Following the match against SRH, he was trolled on social media and even booed by fans in both Ahmedabad and Hyderabad. With mounting pressure and a crucial home game approaching, Hardik will be hoping to lead his team to victory and silence his critics.
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The non-stop booing Hardik Pandya faced from the crowd during the IPL 2024 match has sparked a question about how to handle such situations. While a report initially suggested the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) might take action against the hecklers, a more nuanced picture has emerged.
According to a source close to the MCA, the association will primarily rely on the guidelines set by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for managing spectator behavior at matches. This implies the MCA will likely follow established protocols for handling disruptive fans rather than taking any independent action.
“No instructions given for this specific game. There have been set guidelines issued by BCCI on spectators behaviour in the stadium over the years and that is the process that we have followed and we continue to follow the same for all games whether IPL or domestic cricket,” the source said, as quoted by Hindustan Times.
There's been a stir among fans following the leadership change at Mumbai Indians (MI) with Hardik Pandya taking over from Rohit Sharma.
Local favorite Pandya, who captained Gujarat Titans (GT) to their maiden IPL title in 2022, returned to MI for the 2024 season. This switch meant replacing Rohit Sharma, the mastermind behind MI's record five IPL wins. However, according to Hardik's teammate and veteran spinner Piyush Chawla, the new captain remains unfazed despite some fans' negative reactions.
“The way Hardik has taken it...he is just focusing on the game, he is not even worried about what the crowd is doing and once we get a win under our belt, things will be totally different," Chawla said.
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