Mumbai Indians’ captain Hardik Pandya has faced persistent booing from fans at the Wankhede Stadium, a trend that has continued since he replaced Rohit Sharma as skipper. Despite the vocal disapproval, Pandya has received support from his teammates and the franchise.
After a match against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Virat Kohli intervened to request fans to cease their jeering, recognizing Pandya’s status as an India international. In a press conference, Mumbai Indians wicket-keeper batter Ishan Kishan praised Pandya’s leadership and resilience.
Kishan, who trained with Pandya before the IPL 2024 season, believes that Pandya’s hard work and dedication will ultimately earn him the fans’ appreciation. He emphasized that Pandya is not one to complain or seek sympathy, but rather to focus on his performance.
“He loves challenges. He has been in this situation before. He is not someone who will come out and talk about this and that. I know he is someone who works really hard off the field. On the field, he is on a very different level,” said Kishan.
Kishan acknowledged that fans have their expectations and opinions, but he expressed hope that they would eventually embrace Pandya as their captain. He believes that Pandya’s determination and ability to perform under pressure will win over the crowd.
“He is happy with people doing it, in the coming games, he will do it with the bat and people will start loving him again. Because you’re doing well and people will also recognize your hard work,” said Kishan.
Within the Mumbai Indians dressing room, there is unwavering support for Pandya. Kishan emphasized that the team is focused on supporting their captain and helping him succeed.
“We just don’t think about him getting booed. We are there to support him. Whole team is there, the franchise is there. I just feel happy for him that he is keen on performing even in this situation,” said Kishan.
