BCCI vice president Rajeev Shukla has revealed that Hardik Pandya was fully aware of the backlash he would face after taking over the Mumbai Indians (MI) captaincy from Rohit Sharma. Shukla said the all-rounder expected hostility from fans but handled it with maturity.
From Gujarat to Mumbai – The Tough Transition
Ahead of IPL 2024, Hardik was traded back to MI from the Gujarat Titans, where he had led the side to a title and a runner-up finish. Soon after, he was announced as the new captain, replacing Rohit Sharma, the franchise’s most successful leader and fondly called ‘Mumbai Cha Raja’.
The move sparked outrage among fans. Hardik was booed at nearly every venue, beginning with the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. But the worst came at Wankhede Stadium, MI’s own fortress, where the crowd jeered so loudly during the toss that Sanjay Manjrekar had to ask fans to “behave.”
“Hardik Always Knew This Would Happen”
Speaking on the UPT20 league’s official YouTube channel, Shukla clarified that Rohit never instigated fans and that Hardik expected the reaction:
“When such incidents happen, the BCCI reaches out to players. In Hardik’s case, Rohit Sharma’s fan base did not like the change. But neither did Rohit provoke anyone, nor did Hardik lose his composure. He always knew this would happen and was mature about it,” Shukla said.
He added that Hardik did not let emotions take over and trusted that consistent performances would eventually win the fans back.
IPL Struggles Followed by World Cup Redemption
IPL 2024 was a forgettable season for both Hardik and MI. The team finished at the bottom of the table, and Hardik’s form with both bat and ball was underwhelming.
However, redemption came soon after in the T20 World Cup 2024. In the final against South Africa in Barbados, Hardik bowled the tense last over, dismissing David Miller and sealing India’s title win. Overcome with emotion, Hardik was seen in tears after the victory.
When the champions returned to Mumbai, Hardik walked out of the airport with the trophy in hand — this time greeted with deafening cheers instead of boos.
Fans Back Hardik in IPL 2025
The World Cup heroics turned the tide. By IPL 2025, MI fans had fully embraced Hardik again, rallying behind him as their captain. The stormy chapter of 2024 was left behind, replaced with renewed faith and support.
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