Mumbai Indians had a very torrid start to their home campaign in the IPL 2024 against Rajasthan Royals on Monday as their batters failed to fire. It was a season to forget for Mumbai Indians, with three straight defeats leaving them at the bottom of the 10-team points table. To add to MI’s problems, the change of captaincy from Rohit Sharma to Hardik Pandya has angered many fans. Pandya was booed during MI’s matches, the same was the case at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday.
In the midst of this, a video went viral on social media claiming that a placard on Rohit Sharma and a quote from a famous Bollywood film were not allowed inside the Wankhede Stadium. “Rishte mein toh hum tumhare, captain baap lagte hain,” the board read. It is not clear whether the video is authentic or not. WhatsNew2Day cannot determine whether the video was taken outside the Wankhede Stadium.
Mumbai Indians management will not allow Rohit Sharma posters inside the stadium.
This is hypocrisy at its best. Fans are the biggest stakeholders in IPL and cricket.
Then why would fans buy your tickets?Shame! #RohitSharma #MumbaiIndians pic.twitter.com/tomvTRWIhf
— (@retiredMIfans) April 1, 2024
Rumors are also doing the rounds that the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has planned action against fans targeting Hardik.
However, MCA has denied this and said they will follow BCCI guidelines on crowd behavior.
“No instructions have been given for this particular game. Guidelines have been issued by BCCI on spectator behavior over the years, which is a process that is being followed,” an MCA statement quoted by News 18 said.
Speaking of the match, a clinical Rajasthan Royals romped home for a third win on the trot in the Indian Premier League with a six-wicket hammer blow over Mumbai Indians, whose skipper Hardik Pandya continued to be on the receiving end of fans’ ire stand on Monday.
After Yuzvendra Chahal (3/11) and Trent Boult (3/22) combined to suffocate Mumbai Indians with the bat, restricting them to 125/9, Riyan Parag (54 not out) produced another knockout of the top shelf to conquer Rajasthan. Royals to the top spot in the IPL points table.
The 22-year-old Parag continued to make great strides this season with a goal display that reflected his maturity and aggression, delivering a number of spectacular strikes while being determined not to give up until his side crossed the line.
Parag’s knock was studded with five fours and three sixes as Royals reached 127/4 after 15.3 overs and won with 27 balls to spare.
Meanwhile, there was no let-up for Pandya, who was booed several times in Mumbai Indians’ first home match. It started with Pandya being booed when he entered the field for warm-up drills and fans hitting the player again hard when he came out for the toss.
With PTI inputs
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