Fans have expressed their displeasure over the measure by booing Hardik Pandya during matches.© BCCI
Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has expressed concern over a possible rift between Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya and veteran batsman Rohit Sharma. Hardik and Rohit have been in the news ever since the all-rounder replaced the long-serving batsman as the franchise captain ahead of the IPL 2024. MI traded Hardik from Gujarat Titans before appointing him captain. However, the move to replace Rohit with Hardik has not gone down well with the MI fans.
Fans have expressed their displeasure over the measure by booing Hardik during the matches so far in the campaign. MI have lost all three of their matches so far.
Having suffered similar treatment while managing Australia, Clarke said it never feels good to be booed by one’s own fans. He believes Rohit should speak out in support of Hardik.
“I feel like it’s probably at a stage where if things continue like this, Rohit Sharma has to come out and say something publicly and really support Hardik. You don’t like to see that. I know it’s in the sport is happening, but the cheering of home fans is not.” Okay. It is not that Hardik has taken the decision to become captain. The Mumbai Indians have made that decision; they brought him back and gave him the captaincy,” Clarke told ESPN.
Speaking about the possibility of a bad bloodbath between the two, Clarke hoped the MI locker room is in good spirits.
“I just hope that things go well for him (Rohit) and Hardik. Again, they have always got along well. Rohit is a super guy and a great player, so that’s something else. You probably have Rohit Sharma also need to make runs for Mumbai to have the success they have always had. But hey let’s get some wins if you are Mumbai Indians. Hardik needs to keep playing well and hopefully the fans will get behind the team and Hardik as captain,” he added.
Clarke also recalled being booed by the Australian fans after replacing Ricky Ponting as captain in 2011.
“I experienced it at the Gabba when I was captaining Australia. I was absolutely beaten as I went to bat. Fans were booing me and then I think I made a 100 and they stood up and applauded as I walked away” , Clarke recalls.
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