Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma, clad in his training attire, conversed with former teammate Harbhajan Singh, who was present on the field as a commentator. Later, a video surfaced showing Rohit seemingly appealing to the crowd to cease booing his successor.
However, Pandya temporarily managed to win over the crowd with his batting prowess, swiftly transforming the jeers into cheers with a flurry of boundaries during his brisk 21-ball 34. His entertaining innings lifted Mumbai Indians from a precarious 20/4 to 76/5 in the 10th over before his innings came to an end.
Despite Pandya’s efforts, Mumbai Indians fell short, losing the match by six wickets after posting a modest total of 125/9.
The 29-year-old, who took over the captaincy from Rohit ahead of the tournament, has faced backlash from the crowd regarding the franchise’s leadership decision in previous away games at Ahmedabad and Hyderabad.
Pandya faced boos from sections of the crowd during his warm-up exercises and again when his name was announced at the toss. However, he smiled in response to the loud chants in support of former Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit.The displeasure towards Pandya persisted, particularly from the Sachin Tendulkar stand, when he came out to bat with Mumbai Indians struggling at 20/4 in the fourth over.Nish Navalkar, a member of the ‘North Stand Gang’ at Wankhede Stadium, expressed his belief that Pandya would earn a hero’s welcome once he delivers a match-winning performance for Mumbai Indians.
Having suffered three consecutive defeats, Mumbai once again adheres to its reputation of starting slow in the IPL. Under the leadership of Pandya, the team faced losses against Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad and a defeat at the hands of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Mumbai seeks a change in fortune as they prepare to face Delhi Capitals at their home ground, Wankhede Stadium, on Sunday.
Despite the setbacks, Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya remains optimistic about their prospects in the ongoing IPL 2024 tournament. Expressing confidence in his team’s ability to bounce back, Pandya emphasized the need for greater courage and discipline.
Reflecting on their recent performance, Pandya stressed the importance of executing their plans effectively and maintaining discipline in upcoming matches.
“As a unit, we are aware of our potential to perform better. However, it’s imperative that we exhibit more discipline and resilience,” Pandya stated, highlighting the team’s determination to improve their performance in the upcoming fixtures.
(With PTI inputs)
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