File photo of Hardik Pandya.© BCCI
With defeats in as many matches in IPL 2024, Mumbai Indians (MI) Hardik Pandya’s return to the franchise is not going as planned. Hardik’s move to MI from Gujarat Titans, eventually taking over the captaincy from veteran Rohit Sharma, was met with a huge backlash from fans. Hardik has been constantly targeted by fans during the matches so far. He was booed by the fans on his return to Ahmedabad for MI’s opening match against GT.
The trend continued in the matches against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Rajasthan Royals (RR). Several former cricketers have come out in support of the all-rounder during difficult times, both on and off the field.
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke is the latest to offer his support to Hardik. Clarke, who played just one season in the IPL in 2012, revealed his conversation with Hardik and also shed light on the latter’s mentality.
Clarke termed Hardik as a confident person and suggested that he will be successful in winning over fans if MI can achieve good results.
“It doesn’t help if your team isn’t performing. I spoke to Hardik Pandya when I arrived here and it seems like he’s doing well. He’s a very confident guy. He won’t let this get to this point.” He needs him, but he has to make sure this team wins cricket matches. Mumbai are such a good team and there are always high expectations. The fans want them to be at the top of the tree, but at the moment they are at the bottom,” Clarke said on ESPN’s Around the Wicket.
England pacer Stuart Broad also spoke about the slump that five-time champions Mumbai Indians are in. He said the only way Mumbai Indians can stop what is happening in the stadiums – the incessant mocking of skipper Hardik Pandya by fans – is by winning matches.
“As a player, to be honest, it doesn’t bother you at all. It’s part of international top sport,” said Broad.
“You don’t necessarily get that kind of environment and hostile feeling on your home base. But I don’t think the atmosphere can affect you as a proven performer. You still have to go out there and deliver your skills.” “At the end of the day, Mumbai Indians is a winning franchise. It has a winning mentality and they are not winning. That is the toughest thing they have to deal with at the moment. What they have to do is just get back to winning,” he said.
(With PTI inputs)
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