Hardik Pandya’s return to the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, this time as the captain of Mumbai Indians, stirred many emotions among fans and spectators, marked by anticipation, criticism, and drama.

After his trade from Gujarat Titans to Mumbai Indians ahead of IPL 2024, Hardik Pandya’s homecoming to Ahmedabad marked a significant moment in his cricketing journey, as he stepped onto familiar turf with a new role and responsibilities.

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Mixed Reception: Boos and Cheers

The atmosphere at the Narendra Modi Stadium was charged with contrasting emotions as Pandya faced a chorus of boos from the crowd, juxtaposed with the warm reception accorded to Shubman Gill, his successor as Gujarat’s captain, highlighting the divided sentiments among the spectators.

Despite the unwelcoming response from the crowd, Pandya exhibited composure and professionalism during the toss ceremony, maintaining his focus on the game and proceeding with the proceedings in a dignified manner.

Boos on Pandya’s Bowling

The intensity of emotions surrounding Pandya’s return was further emphasized when the crowd erupted into another round of boos as Pandya took the ball to bowl. However, he initially failed to make an impact, conceding runs and facing criticism for his performance. Pandya started the MI attack himself, and his first over ended up going for 11 runs, which was a disappointing decision because MI had the best T20 bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, on the field, and skipper Hardik didn’t even look at him to open the bowling.

Dramatic Incident: Pandya’s Fielding Orders to Rohit Sharma

A dramatic incident unfolded on the field when Pandya, in his new role as Mumbai Indians’ captain, gave fielding orders to Rohit Sharma, the veteran cricketer and former team captain, sparking discussions and raising eyebrows among fans and pundits.

Rohit was there, and Hardik immediately told him to change his position. However, India’s all-format captain was not prepared for it, and in a gesture, he told, ‘who, me?’

And Hardik confirmed, which led Rohit to switch his place, setting the social media world on fire.

Criticism and Response

Despite his contributions to Gujarat Titans in IPL 2022, Pandya’s return to Ahmedabad was marred by criticism and scrutiny, particularly following the dramatic on-field incident, which fueled further debate and analysis in the cricketing fraternity.

Rohit Sharma’s Performance

Amidst the drama and scrutiny, Rohit Sharma’s performance on the field remained a focal point, with the seasoned batsman showcasing his skill and composure, steering Mumbai Indians’ chase with a commendable innings.

At the time of writing, while Mumbai chasing 169, have reached 112/3 after 13 overs. Rohit scored 43 runs off 29 deliveries.