Hardik Pandya’s debut season as captain of Mumbai Indians (MI) has been nothing less than a soap opera. The all-rounder replaced the long-serving Rohit Sharma as the captain of the franchise ahead of the IPL 2024 players auction. However, fans have not been happy over the change in leadership at MI. The crowd has made it presence felt by booing Hardik during matches so far this season. Former England captain Michael Vaughan shared his views on Hardik being booed by fans.
Since Hardik played two seasons at Gujarat Titans, Vaughan admitted that he understood the hostility from the Ahmedabad crowd in MI’s first game this season at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
However, Vaughan expressed his shock at the treatment Hardik received in Hyderabad, as well as the Wankhede
“I don’t understand booing. I kind of get it in the first game in Gujarat, because he played for them for two years and did not well as a captain. But then when he went to Hyderabad, I was like, ‘What’s going on.’ Then when he came back to Wankhede, his own home support was booing him. I did not understand that,” Vaughan said on BeerBiceps podcas.
Vaughan urged fans to back Hardik as India would need him to be fit and firing for the T20 World Cup.
“What Indian cricket fans need to understand is that Mumbai Indians are Indian fans and for India to win the T20 World Cup, they need Hardik Pandya. They need him to play well. So somehow, over the next few weeks, they need him to get that confidence level right upto the top level, because with India having Hardik flying, they got a great chance in lifting that trophy,” he added.
Speaking further on the MI captaincy drama, Vaughan suggested that Rohit should have been the captain of the franchise.
“I personally would’ve captained Rohit. Hardik coming back to MI is big enough pressure in itself, and Rohit is obviously going to be the Indian T20 captain. The sensible move would’ve been for Rohit to carry as MI captain with Hardik in mind for next year or 2,” Vaughan explained.
