Hardik Pandya (L) and Rohit Sharma© AFP
It has been a disappointing IPL 2024 season for both Hardik Pandya and Mumbai Indians. The five-time champions became the first team to get eliminated from the IPL 2024 playoffs race and skipper Hardik was the one who faced the majority of criticism. Hardik completed a sensational move to MI from Gujarat Titans and replaced Rohit Sharma as the captain ahead of the new season. However, the decision was not taken well by a section of the fanbase and the dismal form of the side only led to the negative reactions towards Hardik.
The all-rounder was booed by fans at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and came under a lot of pressure for his disappointing run of form – both with bat as well as ball.
Former Australia cricketer Aaron Finch said that he expected Rohit Sharma to come out in support of Hardik Pandya when the all-rounder was booed by the fans. He also said that if Rohit publicly supported the change in captaincy, the fans would have supported Hardik during the season.
“Just the one thing that I would have loved to have seen from Rohit throughout the IPL campaign is to make some kind of public statement because the resentment towards Hardik from the public has been unbelievable – getting booed. And it’s changed to cheers when he walks out since the World Cup squad has been announced,” Finch said on Around the Wicket.
“But for eight games, Hardik was getting booed during a Mumbai Indians game. So I would have loved seeing Rohit come out and say something publicly. Say ‘No, this is part of the plan for Mumbai Indians, and Hardik’s got my full support. Just think that would have put things to be a lot more quickly.”
Mumbai Indians have won just four out of their 13 matches in IPL 2024 till now.
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