Sonu Sood, the well-known Bollywood actor, recently expressed his backing for cricketers on his social media platforms. He specifically voiced his support for Hardik Pandya, who has been under intense scrutiny due to his lackluster performances in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.
Hardik Pandya, stepping into the role of Mumbai Indians captain after replacing Rohit Sharma, faced a barrage of boos at both the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. The decision to replace Sharma with Pandya has sparked outrage among fans, leading to social media trolling and jokes that spilled over into the stadiums. Pandya endured being booed and subjected to name-calling, including casteist slurs.
However, amidst the negativity, there has been a silver lining as support for Pandya emerged from journalists and prominent personalities across the country. Among them, Bollywood actor Sonu Sood took to his Instagram story to remind fans that Pandya is not just a player for Mumbai Indians but also represents India on the international stage. Sood emphasized that regardless of the franchise he plays for, Pandya remains a hero of the nation.
“We should respect our players. Players who made us proud, players who made our country proud. One day you cheer for them, next day you boo them. It’s not they, it’s us who fail. I love cricket. I love every cricketer who represents my country. Doesn’t matter which franchise he plays for. Doesn’t matter whether he’s plays as a Captain or he’s the 15th man in a team. They are our Heroes,” Sonu wrote on his X handle.
Mumbai Indians have had a rough start to their IPL 2024 journey, facing consecutive defeats. Their first loss came at the hands of Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, followed by another setback against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad. Hardik Pandya, the team’s captain, hasn’t had the best performances, managing only 35 runs across the two matches and securing just one wicket.
Looking ahead, Mumbai Indians are eager to turn the tide and secure their first win of the season. Their upcoming challenge will be against the undefeated Rajasthan Royals at the renowned Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Monday, April 1st.
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