Following the third consecutive loss of the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, the spotlight on captain Hardik Pandya intensified. Former MI batter Ambati Rayudu was seen consoling the skipper in the dugout after the tough loss.
This season, it’s been a tough start for Hardik Pandya as he leads the Mumbai Indians for the first time. With three consecutive losses, they find themselves at the bottom of the points table, not the position they or their fans anticipated.
Unfortunately, Pandya seems to have found himself in hot water with fans lately. Since his move from the Gujarat Titans to Mumbai Indians, where he insisted on taking over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma as part of the deal, he’s faced a barrage of criticism. The crowds in the stadiums haven’t been kind, showering him with boos instead of support, chanting “Rohit Rohit” whenever he appears on screen.
On top of the fan backlash, Pandya’s struggles on the field haven’t helped matters. The team has suffered defeats in all three matches under his leadership, and his own performances with bat and ball haven’t been up to his usual standard in this year’s IPL.
After their recent loss to the Rajasthan Royals, there was a touching moment captured between Pandya and former Mumbai Indians player Ambati Rayudu. Rayudu approached Pandya, who looked visibly dejected and shared a few words of encouragement, trying to lift his spirits. Mumbai Indians shared a video of this moment on their official Twitter account, showing Rayudu’s supportive gesture towards the skipper during a tough time.
Following their defeat by the Rajasthan Royals, Hardik advised his team members to exhibit greater discipline and bravery.
Hardik Pandya said: “Yes, a tough night, we didn’t start the way we wanted to start. I wanted to counter, we were in a decent position to get us around 150-160, but my wicket allowed them to get back more into the game, I needed to do a lot more.”
“It’s all about doing the right things, (correct) Results happen at times, at some other times it doesn’t. As a group, we believe we can do a lot better, but we need to be a bit more disciplined and show a lot more courage.”
The Mumbai Indians are set to take on the Delhi Capitals in their next match, which will be held at their home ground on Sunday, April 7th.
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