Amidst the fervor of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, Mumbai Indians‘ newly appointed captain, Hardik Pandya, found himself at the receiving end of boos and jeers from the Wankhede Stadium crowd during the toss of the match against Rajasthan Royals. This incident marks another chapter in the ongoing scrutiny and criticism that Pandya has faced since assuming the captaincy role from Rohit Sharma.
Boos follow Hardik Pandya as Mumbai Indians face Rajasthan Royals
Having suffered a barrage of criticism both on and off the field, Pandya encountered a hostile reception from sections of the crowd as he led Mumbai Indians onto the field for their first home game of the season. The atmosphere at the iconic Wankhede Stadium turned tense as Pandya, accompanied by Rajasthan Royals’ captain Sanju Samson for the match, approached the middle for the coin toss.
Sanjay Manjrekar intervenes
In a noteworthy second captured on digicam, IPL match presenter Sanjay Manjrekar stepped in to deal with the unruly conduct of the spectators. Amidst the boos directed at Pandya, Manjrekar urged the gang to point out respect and decorum, emphasizing the necessity for a optimistic ambiance in the course of the match.
“We’re all set for the toss. I’ve got the two captains with me — Hardik Pandya, the captain of Mumbai Indians. Big round of applause, ladies and gentlemen. Behave,” Manjrekar stated, making an attempt to quell the hostility directed in direction of Pandya.
Pandya stays unfazed
Regardless of the evident pressure within the air, Pandya maintained his composure in the course of the toss, selecting to not instantly deal with the damaging reception from the gang. Expressing his group’s readiness for the match, Pandya reiterated Mumbai Indians’ dedication to their recreation plan and their dedication to ship an entertaining model of cricket.
“We were planning to bowl first. It’s quite exciting to be a part of this game. We always look forward to the future, need to follow the process. Looking forward to playing a brand of cricket everyone enjoys. Playing the same team,” Pandya said, specializing in the duty at hand regardless of the encircling distractions.
Additionally READ: Followers urge for Mohit Sharma’s inclusion in India’s squad for T20 World Cup 2024 following his stellar present in IPL
Right here is the video:
🚨 Toss 🚨@rajasthanroyals win the toss and elect to bowl in opposition to @mipaltan #TATAIPL | #MIvRR pic.twitter.com/pziDfHNIci
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 1, 2024