After heavy backlash and trolling on social media and in the stadiums, Hardik Pandya, the new Mumbai Indians skipper, finally got some support on Twitter as fans started trending “Nation Supports Hardik”.
Ever since his return to Mumbai Indians and his taking the captaincy from Rohit Sharma were announced last year ahead of the IPL 2024 auction, Hardik Pandya has been subjected to a huge amount of trolling and vitriol on social media. This spilt into reality when he was booed and taunted with casteist slurs during MI’s matches in Ahmedabad and Hyderabad.
Clearly, the fans of Rohit Sharma, who are huge in number, and MI are unhappy with Hardik taking – or being appointed – as the new MI captain. However, are the vicious trolling, name-calling and abuses to him and his family justified?
A section of fans raised their voices against this treatment against Hardik Pandya by the Rohit Sharma and MI fans on Twitter.
Following Mumbai’s loss vs SRH, fans started a trend of “NATION SUPPORTS HARDIK” on Twitter to show their support and backing to the 30-year-old who is a key all-rounder for Team India and a match-winner, someone who will be needed during the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 in June.
Fans Trend “Nation Supports Hardik Pandya” On Twitter Amid Backlash For The New MI Captain:
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan criticised Hardik’s captaincy against SRH, when he gave only one over to Jasprit Bumrah in the first 12 overs, until then SRH had racked up 177 runs. Hardik wanted to keep Bumrah’s overs for Klaasen; but with such a big platform made by Head and Abhishek. Klaasen smartly played out Bumrah and hammered other MI bowlers.
Irfan Pathan tweeted: “The captaincy of Hardik Pandya has been ordinary to say the least. Keeping Bumrah away for too long when the carnage was on was beyond my understanding.”
MI lost by 31 runs while chasing 278.
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