After Mumbai Indians’ loss against Rajasthan Royals, Hardik Pandya took to Twitter to share a heartfelt message with the MI fans.
On Tuesday, Hardik Pandya broke his silence amidst the mounting criticism surrounding his captaincy and the disapproving boos from the crowd, as Mumbai Indians faced a dismal start to the 2024 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), suffering defeats in all three initial matches. The woes continued for Mumbai as they lost their first home game of the season against Rajasthan Royals, placing them at the bottom of the points table.
MI’s customary slow start in an IPL campaign saw them lose all three opening games – the only team yet to secure a win and currently occupying the lowest spot in the points tally.
However, the spotlight remained on the audience’s reaction towards Hardik Pandya, who took over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma. The boos from the Wankhede crowd prompted commentator Sanjay Manjrekar to urge for better behavior.
The defeat against Rajasthan Royals was particularly painful. Mumbai Indians struggled to put up a competitive total, managing only 125 runs while batting first, as Trent Boult, Burger, and Chahal wreaked havoc with their bowling skills. Riyan Parag’s half-century ensured RR’s victory with 27 balls to spare.
While criticism mounted against Hardik’s leadership, especially concerning team selection and the utilization of Jasprit Bumrah in the powerplay, the all-rounder faced harsh treatment from the crowd across all three venues where MI played.
The day following their defeat to Rajasthan Royals, Hardik Pandya took to social media to convey a resolute message to the MI fans.
“If there’s one thing you should know about this team, we never give up. We’ll keep fighting, we’ll keep going.” – Pandya tweeted.
The Mumbai Indians are set to take on the Delhi Capitals in their next match, which will be held at their home ground on Sunday, April 7th.
