Former Indian cricket captain and current Delhi Capitals‘ director of cricket, Sourav Ganguly, has voiced his support for Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya, urging fans to refrain from booing him. Ganguly’s comments come amidst the backdrop of Hardik Pandya facing criticism and boos from fans after being appointed as Mumbai Indians’ captain for the ongoing IPL 2024 season.
Hardik’s elevation to captaincy came after his move from Gujarat Titans to Mumbai Indians, replacing Rohit Sharma as the skipper. This decision by the franchise has not been well-received by some fans, leading to booing of Hardik during matches, including at the Wankhede Stadium, where Mumbai Indians played against Delhi Capitals.
Expressing his disapproval of the booing, Ganguly stated, “I don’t think they (fans) should boo Hardik Pandya. It’s not correct. The franchise has appointed him as captain. That’s what happens in sports. Whether you captain India or you captain a state, or whether you captain your franchise, you’re appointed as captain. It’s not Hardik’s fault that he’s been appointed as captain. So I think all of us need to understand that.”
While supporting Hardik, Ganguly also praised Rohit Sharma, calling him a “different class” and acknowledging his exceptional performances as both captain and player for Mumbai Indians and the Indian team.
“Rohit Sharma is a different class. His performance for this franchise (Mumbai) and India has been on a different level as captain and as a player,” he said.
Despite facing criticism and booing, Hardik Pandya has maintained his composure and has not publicly addressed the issue. He will be hoping to lead his team to victories in the upcoming matches to turn the boos into cheers. Mumbai Indians have had a challenging start to the season, suffering three defeats in as many matches, and Hardik will be eager to change their fortunes when they face Delhi Capitals.
As the IPL 2024 season progresses, the spotlight will be on Hardik Pandya and his leadership, with fans and critics alike watching closely to see how he responds to the challenges and pressures of captaincy.
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