Hardik Pandya’s tenure as Mumbai Indians captain got off to a rocky start, to say the least. Here’s a deeper look at the situation:
- Fan Discontent: Mumbai Indians fans are evidently unhappy with the leadership change. They booed Pandya at the toss, their cheers instead reserved for former skipper Rohit Sharma. This discontent has even reached other players, with R Ashwin urging fans to show respect for Pandya.
- Rohit’s Woes: As if to add insult to injury, Rohit Sharma, the man replaced by Pandya, was dismissed for a golden duck. This dismissal, on top of the fan disapproval, creates a tense atmosphere for Pandya’s captaincy debut.
On the field, an unrelated but dramatic turn of events unfolded:
- Triple Threat Boult: Former MI pacer Trent Boult wreaked havoc on his old team’s batting order. He dismissed an incredible three of the top four Mumbai batsmen, including Rohit Sharma and Naman Dhir, all for first-ball ducks. This is a rare occurrence in the IPL, highlighting Boult’s dominance in the opening overs. His record of most wickets taken in the first over since 2020 stands as a testament to his early-innings prowess.
The pressure is now on Hardik Pandya. He needs to navigate not only the team’s batting collapse but also the tense relationship with a section of the home crowd. It will be fascinating to see how he handles this challenging situation and whether Mumbai Indians can stage a comeback.
