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 center for the coin toss.
Sanjay Manjrekar intervenes
In a noteworthy moment captured on camera, IPL match presenter Sanjay Manjrekar stepped in to address the unruly behavior of the spectators. Amidst the boos directed at Pandya, Manjrekar urged the crowd to show respect and decorum, emphasizing the need for a positive atmosphere during 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 said, attempting to quell the hostility directed towards Pandya.
Pandya remains unfazed
Despite the evident tension in the air, Pandya maintained his composure during the toss, choosing not to directly address the negative reception from the crowd. Expressing his team’s readiness for the match, Pandya reiterated Mumbai Indians’ commitment to their game plan and their determination to deliver an entertaining brand 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 stated, focusing on the task at hand despite the surrounding distractions.
Also READ: Fans urge for Mohit Sharma’s inclusion in India’s squad for T20 World Cup 2024 following his stellar show in IPL
Here is the video:
🚨 Toss 🚨@rajasthanroyals win the toss and elect to bowl against @mipaltan #TATAIPL | #MIvRR pic.twitter.com/pziDfHNIci
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 1, 2024
