During the recent Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians match, a surprising incident unfolded as fans were barred from displaying banners in support of Rohit Sharma. Security personnel prevented fans carrying banners endorsing the former MI captain from entering the stadium, resulting in the forced disposal of the “Hitman” banners outside the venue.
This restriction on fan support for Sharma comes amidst a noticeable lack of backing for Hardik Pandya, who has assumed leadership responsibilities for Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2024 season. Despite Sharma’s illustrious tenure as MI captain, which saw him lead the team to five franchise victories, he was replaced by Pandya as captain ahead of the current season.
Pandya’s journey in the IPL has taken a unique turn as he transitioned from leading the Gujarat Titans, a franchise added to the IPL roster in 2022, to returning to his old team, Mumbai Indians, as captain for the 2024 season. However, the shift in leadership has not been smooth, with Pandya facing criticism and jeering from some sections of the Mumbai Indians fan base.
In response to the backlash against Pandya, stadium authorities have reportedly implemented measures to prevent any negative behaviour towards the new captain. According to reports, individuals found speaking against Pandya or booing him during matches will face expulsion from the stadium.
Despite the challenges, Pandya has stepped up to the leadership role for Mumbai Indians, although the team finds itself at the bottom of the IPL table with three defeats in as many matches. The impact of Pandya’s captaincy on the team’s performance remains a subject of debate amidst the ongoing IPL season.
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