2024-04-13 20:42:13
Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya has been in the face of ridicule since the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Wherever Hardik takes the field, be it Ahmedabad or Mumbai, the crowd boos him.
On Thursday (April 11) a similar incident happened at home ground Wankhede. Only when he was batting and hitting four-sixes, there was applause. The rest of the match was met with jeers from the crowd at the Wankhede. Those spectators chanted ‘Rohit, Rohit’ countless times.
No one is taking kindly to such behavior towards the national team cricketer. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma requested not to mock. However, Hardik enjoys the taunts from the fans, said his teammate Ishaan Kishan. Whenever fans misbehave, Hardik is ready to respond. Of course, with bat-ball, field performance.
Ishan played a storming innings of 69 runs on the night of Royal Challengers Bangalore’s defeat. After the match, the wicket-keeper batsman came to the press conference. There was a mockery of the audience and asked about Hardik’s position. Mumbai opener Ishan claimed, ‘Hardik is not disappointed if the visitors do something. Instead, be happy with the audience’s mockery.’
Ishaan also explained the reason behind this. He claimed that Hardik got inspiration for good work from the mockery of the audience. Likes to respond with performance.
Ishan said, ‘He will do well with the bat in the next match and people will start loving him again. Because, you are doing well and people will recognize your hard work. You are going through bad times, yet you are performing for the team. I think people are appreciating it and fans are loving it. They (the fans) can be a little hard on you, but at the same time if you show that it doesn’t bother you, you can carry on with your head held high. If you perform, it (sarcasm) will change itself. Maybe not today. will be tomorrow If not tomorrow. It will be the next day.’
Mumbai, who started the IPL with three consecutive losses, look to win the fourth match. They lost matches against Gujarat, Hyderabad and Rajasthan. The fourth match was won at home against Delhi. Then beat Bengaluru to keep the consistency. Up ahead, they face Chennai at the Wankhede.