Hardik Pandya’s Mumbai Indians failed to win their first match of Indian Premier League 2024 against Gujarat Titans. After coming back as the MI captain, Hardik Pandya failed to inspire his team to a win, failing both with bat and ball, and possibly as a captain as well. Hardik Pandya was criticized for starting with the ball instead of Jasprit Bumrah and then coming in too late in MI’s chase of 169 runs on Sunday, 24 March in Ahmedabad. The slump continued as Hardik Pandya’s MI lost their second match versus SunRisers Hyderabad.
Hardik Pandya ,the MI captain has not had a smooth start to his captaincy on his comeback to the franchise that made him a household name in the Indian cricketing scene. Hardik Pandya was asked about a ‘captaincy clause’ in his contract ahead of the season, a question that he ignored. Hardik Pandya too was criticized by fans on social media as well for the treatment of Rohit Sharma during the match.
Fans and Media lashes out at Hardik Pandya’s treatment to former MI and India skipper Rohit Sharma in the opener for MI
Captain Hardik Pandya took complete control of the proceedings in his first match as skipper of the Mumbai Indians even as the 5-time champions lost to Gujarat Titans in their IPL 2024 opener in Ahmedabad on Sunday, March 24. In a viral video, Hardik Pandya was seen commanding Rohit Sharma on the field as the former captain was moved around on the field during Gujarat Titans’ innings at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Rohit Sharma, who has been used to fielding inside the ring, was a little surprised when he was asked to field in the deep by newly-appointed captain Hardik Pandya. The Baroda all-rounder looked animated as he wanted to get his field placements right in the final over of the Gujarat Titans innings.
Hardik Pandya asked Rohit to go to near the boundary rope after the former captain was fielding inside the 30-yard circle. After Rohit took a position along the boundary, Hardik Pandya wanted his former captain to move to his right further as he made sure bowler Gerald Coetzee had the right man at the right areas.
A section of fans did not like what they saw as Rohit Sharma had to do the running in the final over of the Mumbai Indians’ contest. While it’s normal for a captain to use his best fielders at the right spots, emotional Rohit Sharma fans took to social media to lash out at Hardik Pandya.
In fact, Rohit Sharma took a catch in the deep in a rare sight as the former Mumbai Indians captain played the team man’s role to perfection. In the 8th over of the match, Rohit took Shubman Gill’s catch at long-on after Piyush Chawla tempted the Gujarat Titans to mistime a big shot.
It was not a happy homecoming for Hardik Pandya as the Mumbai Indians captain was booed by the Ahmedabad crowd at the toss. A large section of fans at the Narendra Modi Stadium were seemingly not happy with the Hardik’s trade from Mumbai to Gujarat. Notably, Hardik, who was first given the role of captain in the IPL by Gujarat Titans, led the team to title in 2022 and the final in 2023 before he made a shock trade move back to MI before last year’s auction.
However roads to redemption was never too late for Hardik Pandya and Mumbai Indians as after loosing first 3 matches at Wankhede the team under Hardik Pandya found winning ways back to the liking of the crowd.
Hardik Pandya’s road to redemption has begun.
The road to redemption for Hardik Pandya has begun. One can see it in his performance and also the positive results for Mumbai Indians. After losing a hat-trick of matches to start IPL 2024, MI have now beaten the Delhi Capitals and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru to bring their campaign back on track. What’s even more heartening to see is captain Hardik’s performance with the bat.
Criticized for his slow strike rate in the middle overs, Hardik walked out against RCB to prove a point. With the bulk of the damage done by Ishan Kishan (69 off 34) and Suryakumar Yadav (52 off 19) with their blistering half-centuries, Hardik made sure there was no letup in the intensity by smashing a 6-ball 21* with three sixes. He also hit a six off Akash Deep’s bowling to finish the match.
MI chased down the 199-run target inside 16 overs with 7 wickets in hand. That’s quite a statement from a franchise which was being written off very early in the tournament and its captain heckled, booed and abused everywhere he went.
The latter didn’t change much even on Thursday. Hardik was booed when he came on to bowl in the 10th over of the RCB innings. There was unfavorable noise whenever the ball went to him in the field. The boos returned when he came out to bat. But as soon as Virat Kohli requested the crowd to cheer for Hardik instead of booing him, things slowly but surely started to change.
Ishan Kishan believes it won’t take much time for Hardik to turn the tide in his favour as he loves challenges.
“He (Pandya) loves challenges, he has been in this situation before and he is in that situation right now. He is not someone who will come out and talk about it and say let’s stop this or that,” Kishan told the media here after MI defeated RCB by seven wickets.
‘Hardik enjoying the challenge, will win fans back’ reckons Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan, who has seen Hardik Pandya from close quarters, said a part of the MI captain must be relishing and enjoying the boos.
“I know that he must be enjoying it. I know him personally. I have spent a lot of time with him. He is ready for the challenges because you cannot complain to the fans, they will come up with their explanations and their point of view,” Kishan added.
Kishan said the 29-year-old all-rounder could turn all anger around with his performances. “But knowing how Hardik Pandya thinks, he is happy with people doing it but I know that in the coming games, he will do it with the bat and people will start loving him (again),” he said.
Kishan highlighted Indian fans’ tendency to recognize the hard work of a cricketer, irrespective of their personal feelings towards him.
“People also recognize your hard work, what you are going through and still you are doing so well for your team. I think people do recognize that.” “Our fans will be a little harsh on you but at the same time when you do well, or when you show that it is (still) not bothering you and (that) you are in a very good headspace, that might change. If not today, tomorrow. If not tomorrow, the day after tomorrow,” he said.
Kishan said Pandya’s focus was on improving his outings. “I feel happy about him that even in this situation he is so keen on performing, hitting six on the very first ball knowing that things can go a different way and people will question you again. But that is something which Hardik has in himself and other players don’t,” Kishan noted.
Mumbai Indians under Hardik Pandya will now face a tough challenge of arch rivals Chennai Super Kings on 14th April and would love to continue the winning momentum at Wankhede as well.