Rajeev Shukla revealed that Hardik Pandya had always anticipated the hostile reaction from Mumbai Indians fans after taking over captaincy from Rohit Sharma.
Hardik Pandya Overcomes Hostile Reception After Taking Mumbai Indians Captaincy
Hardik Pandya may have enjoyed full support from Mumbai Indians fans in IPL 2025, but the 2024 season was a challenging chapter for the all-rounder. Traded from Gujarat Titans to Mumbai Indians, Hardik was soon appointed captain, taking over from Rohit Sharma. The announcement did not sit well with some fans, and he faced widespread boos across the country.
Rajeev Shukla, vice president of the BCCI, revealed that the board reached out to Hardik during this difficult period. “Hardik always knew he would face rowdy behaviour taking over from Rohit Sharma, fondly known as ‘Mumbai Cha Raja’,” Shukla said.
Hardik first faced boos at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which was somewhat expected due to his switch from Gujarat to Mumbai. However, the most hostile reception awaited him at Wankhede Stadium against Rajasthan Royals, where a ring of boos erupted as soon as Sanjay Manjrekar mentioned Hardik’s name at the toss. The commentary team intervened, with Manjrekar asking the crowd to “behave.”
Hardik’s performance in T20 World Cup turns the tide around
Hardik Pandya endured a tough IPL 2024 season, as the Mumbai Indians finished at the bottom of the points table and the all-rounder struggled with both bat and ball. However, he turned things around spectacularly in the T20 World Cup, playing a crucial role in India’s victory over South Africa in the final at Barbados. Hardik bowled the decisive final over and took the key wicket of David Miller.
Emotional after India’s triumph, Hardik was seen in tears, and upon returning to Mumbai, he walked out of the airport holding the trophy to a roaring crowd. This moment rekindled the bond between Hardik and Mumbai Indians supporters, who gave him their full backing in the IPL 2025 season.
