The Wankhede Stadium witnessed a stark display of fan sentiment during the recent clash between Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2024. As the teams geared up for the toss, the atmosphere was charged with contrasting emotions.
The home crowd booed their skipper and cheered for ‘Rohit Sharma’ at the toss. Pandya was badly booed by the crowd in MI’s first two matches played at Ahmedabad and Hyderabad in the IPL 2024 but his homecoming did not bring any change of fortune.
Never Mess with Rohit Sharma's Wankhedepic.twitter.com/jA1Uy1RjxH
— Berlin (@BlueandGoldAura) April 1, 2024
Former Mumbai Indians captain, Rohit Sharma, received a thunderous welcome from the crowd as he stepped onto the field for practice. Cheers reverberated across the stadium, showcasing unwavering support for the veteran cricketer. In stark contrast, current captain Hardik Pandya faced a barrage of boos from the audience, indicating a deep-seated discontent among fans.
The reaction to Pandya’s captaincy tenure has been under scrutiny since he took over the reins from Rohit Sharma. The decision seems to have divided the fanbase, with many expressing their allegiance to the former skipper through vocal demonstrations of support.
Sanjay Manjrekar, present at the ground during the toss, felt compelled to address the crowd, urging them to show respect to Pandya. Despite his plea, the chorus of boos persisted, highlighting the intensity of fan dissatisfaction.
The discontentment was not confined to the stadium alone. Visuals shared on social media depicted fans chanting Rohit Sharma’s name even before the team bus arrived at the venue. Additionally, jerseys bearing Rohit’s name were prominently displayed outside Wankhede, further underscoring the prevailing sentiment among supporters.
The animosity towards Pandya extended beyond the confines of the stadium, with online discussions reflecting the divisive nature of the captaincy change. Even cricketing stalwarts like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli have faced similar backlash from Mumbai fans in the past, indicating a fervent attachment to the team’s legacy and its revered leaders.
Despite the fan fervor surrounding Rohit Sharma’s return, the match itself witnessed unexpected twists, with both Sharma and another former MI player, Naman Dhir, falling prey to Trent Boult’s bowling prowess, each departing for a first-ball duck. The early setbacks for Mumbai Indians only added fuel to the already charged atmosphere at Wankhede.
Boult’s remarkable feat of dismissing three of the top four batters for ducks, all off the first ball, underscored the intensity of the competition on the field. His stellar performance further accentuated the rollercoaster of emotions experienced by fans throughout the match.
As the IPL 2024 season unfolds, the fervent support for Rohit Sharma and the scrutiny faced by Hardik Pandya continue to shape the narrative surrounding Mumbai Indians. Whether this division among fans will subside or intensify remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – the passion for cricket runs deep in the hearts of Mumbai’s faithful, driving both jubilation and dissent in equal measure.