As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season draws near, the Mumbai Indians’ captaincy change remains a hot topic of discussion, with all eyes on Hardik Pandya as he gears up to lead the team in the upcoming tournament.
Following his sensational trade from the Gujarat Titans, Hardik Pandya is set to take over the reins from Rohit Sharma as captain of the Mumbai Indians. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled the schedule for the first half of the T20 league, igniting anticipation among fans for Hardik’s debut as captain, particularly in Ahmedabad.
Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra added to the buzz, humorously suggesting that he’d like to see Hardik being jeered by the Ahmedabad crowd, echoing a sentiment of discontent among some fans about Rohit Sharma’s departure from the franchise.
While Hardik Pandya has remained tight-lipped about the captaincy change publicly, Ritika Sajdeh, Rohit Sharma’s wife, responded strongly to coach Mark Boucher’s explanation of the situation, indicating the emotional impact of the decision.
Chopra recalled past instances where players faced backlash from fans, expressing his anticipation for a similar reaction towards Hardik in Ahmedabad. He emphasized the significance of such moments in the league’s growth and maturity.
“I want Hardik Pandya to get booed in Ahmedabad. I’ll tell you why. First IPL season, Mumbai vs Kolkata. We were playing at the Wankhede Stadium. Ajit Agarkar was in our team and we had to take him off the boundary because he was Mumbai’s boy, playing against Mumbai, in Mumbai and getting booed by the Wankhede crowd. So we put him back inside the circle because it was not nice,” Chopra said on Jio Cinema as the IPL 2024 schedule was announced by the BCCI.
As the countdown to IPL 2024 begins, the Mumbai Indians’ captaincy change continues to stir speculation and intrigue, setting the stage for an exciting tournament ahead.