Hardik Pandya returned to Ahmedabad for the first time since moving from Gujarat Titans to Mumbai Indians ahead of IPL 2024. Taking over as the new captain of Mumbai Indians from Rohit Sharma, Pandya’s presence sparked a surge of emotions among the spectators.
As Pandya and Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill stepped onto the field for the toss, the stadium erupted into a chaos of noise. Amid chants of “Rohit, Rohit,” Pandya faced an unexpected reception from the GT fans, who showered him with boos. However, Mumbai Indians won the toss, prompting a shift in the crowd’s mood as they began whistling in a supportive display.
Even the commentators couldn’t help but remark on the unusual reaction from the Ahmedabad crowd towards Pandya. Former England player Kevin Pietersen noted the infrequency of such happenings in India, comparing it more to the atmosphere found in European football stadiums.
“I have never seen any Indian player getting booed like they are booing Hardik Pandya here in Ahmedabad. This is a rare happening,” Pietersen remarked during the live broadcast.
Pandya’s journey with Gujarat Titans had seen its peaks, including leading the team to an IPL title in their debut season in 2022 and guiding them to the final the following year. However, his sudden departure to Mumbai Indians came as a surprise to many and was met with mixed reactions from the Titans’ loyal fanbase.
Despite the less-than-ideal reception, Pandya remained polite, recognizing the significance of Gujarat in his cricketing journey. “Feels good to be back. My birthplace is Gujarat, a lot of success came in Gujarat, very grateful to the crowd and this state. My cricketing birth happened in Mumbai, so really good to be back,” Pandya reflected during the toss.
As the IPL season unfolds, the reaction to Pandya’s return highlights the passion and intensity of cricket fans, showcasing the ups and downs that come with every twist and turn in the world of cricket.
Hi, I am Aanya Gupta, a passionate writer with a focus on sports and betting. With three years of experience in the dynamic world of news sports, I’ve honed my skills in content creation and blogging. My journey began three years ago when I discovered my love for writing about sports, and since then, I’ve immersed myself in the world of sports journalism.