IPL 2024: Sanjay Manjrekar tells Wankhede crowd to ‘BEHAVE’ over Hardik boos
The Mumbai Indians’ camp has become embroiled in a heated debate over the captaincy in the 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Ahead of Mumbai’s first home game of the season, the atmosphere at the Wankhede Stadium turned sour as supporters expressed their discontent with Hardik Pandya, the newly appointed captain, during the traditional coin toss.
Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar’s introduction of Pandya at the toss was met with boos from the crowd, setting the tone for a contentious evening. Despite Pandya’s status as the team’s leader, the reception from fans resembled that of an opposition player rather than a homegrown talent.
Manjrekar, sensing the rising tension, took to the airwaves to issue a stern warning to the unruly crowd, urging them to maintain decorum. However, the hostility persisted, casting a shadow over Pandya’s homecoming as captain of the Mumbai Indians.
Nevertheless, Pandya remained composed and focused on the task at hand, confirming an unchanged playing XI for the match against the Rajasthan Royals. Despite the adversity, he expressed his enthusiasm for the game and emphasized the team’s commitment to playing an entertaining brand of cricket.
The negative reception towards Pandya continued as he took the field to bowl during Mumbai Indians’ opener against the Gujarat Titans, his former franchise. Despite his past success with the Titans, Pandya found himself on the receiving end of jeers from the crowd, underscoring the deep-seated tensions within the Mumbai Indians’ fanbase.
The captaincy saga has cast a shadow over Mumbai Indians’ performance on the field, with Pandya facing criticism following the team’s loss to the Sunrisers Hyderabad earlier in the season. As the IPL season progresses, the outcome of this internal conflict remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: tensions are running high within the Mumbai Indians’ camp.
Mumbai Indians playing XI: Ishan Kishan(w), Rohit Sharma, Naman Dhir, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya(c), Tim David, Gerald Coetzee, Piyush Chawla, Akash Madhwal, Jasprit Bumrah, Kwena Maphaka.
Rajasthan Royals playing XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson(w/c), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Nandre Burger, Yuzvendra Chahal.
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