Image Source: IPL
[Saba Sports News] Hardik Pandya’s first appearance as Mumbai Indians’ captain at their home ground, Wankhede Stadium, turned sour as he faced hostility from the crowd during their match against Rajasthan Royals on Monday, April 01. Pandya was greeted with loud boos at the toss, prompting commentator Sanjay Manjrekar to intervene and appeal for better behavior from the spectators.
The atmosphere became even more tense as Pandya struggled to revive Mumbai’s innings after they slumped to 20/4 within 3.3 overs. Ultimately, he was dismissed for 34 runs off 21 balls. Adding to his woes, Pandya dropped a catch at covers during the fourth over, which led to intensified boos from the crowd.
Despite the adversity, Pandya tried to maintain composure with a wry smile, seeking solace from above. Witnessing the unsavory treatment, former MI captain Rohit Sharma stepped in and gestured to the fans to calm down while fielding on the boundary, a moment that garnered widespread praise on social media for its display of sportsmanship.