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Former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary predicted that Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya will be booed a bit louder in their home game. Tiwary said Pandya might not receive a pleasant welcome in his first game as MI captain at Wankhede Stadium. The five-time IPL champions are set to host 2008 winners Rajasthan Royals in a highly-anticipated game on April 1 at their home ground Wankhede Stadium. Before the game, the former India player said that MI’s new captain Hardik Pandya would get booed louder during the game.
Tiwary’s statement came after Hardik Pandya received an unpleasant welcome during MI’s campaign opener against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Pandya was earlier the captain of the Gujarat-based franchise before he was traded to his former team ahead of the IPL 2024 auction. Not only this, but Pandya also replaced MI’s long-standing captain Rohit Sharma to lead the side. The franchise’s decision to snub Sharma, the captain who led the side to five IPL trophies, didn’t go well with the fans, and they expressed their disappointment.
Hardik Pandya will be booed louder in Mumbai: Manoj Tiwary
After what happened in Ahmedabad, Tiwary told PTI, “You have to see how he gets welcomed here in Mumbai because I think he is going to get booed a bit louder here. Because as a fan, a Mumbai fan, or a Rohit Sharma fan, nobody expected that captaincy would be given to Hardik. And despite Rohit giving five trophies to Mumbai Indians, he has to lose the captaincy. I don't know what the reasons are, but I think it has not gone down well with the fans. And that is the reaction which you see on the field.”
Talking about the way Pandya handled things, Tiwary said, "Knowing him, whatever I have been observing of late through television, that despite getting booed, he kept his calm, he kept his nerve, which is the sign of a good temperament.” He further said, "I believe even if he was not booed, he has to perform well to get into the Indian team to play the World Cup. Because it is important for all the players to perform well and be fit as well to be available for selection.”