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An Indian cricket star has been booed by his own team’s fans in stadiums across the country, including his home ground. Mumbai Indians captain, Hardik Pandya, was confronted by booing crowds at matches in Mumbai, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad where the team suffered a hat-trick of defeats.
Pandya, 30, has replaced India’s captain Rohit Sharma at the helm of Mumbai Indians for this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL). Under Sharma’s tenure captaining Mumbai Indians, Pandya was part of four title-winning campaigns.
Mumbai’s move appears to have taken fans by surprise, with some believing Sharma was pushed from the captaincy, according to the BBC.
The boos appear to be the fans’ way of expressing their feelings to Pandya, who is Mumbai Indians’ fifth captain since the team formed in 2008. Pandya received a hostile reception from fans at last week’s match against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.
He was later met with a frosty reception by fans at Mumbai Indians’ match against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Fans jeered Pandya during the toss at a home game against Rajasthan Royals on Monday (April 1).
Commentator Sanjay Manjrekar urged the fans to “behave”, but the booing continued when Pandya failed to make a catch.
Rajasthan Royals’ bowling allrounder Ravichandran Ashwin blamed fan wars for the booing, telling viewers of his YouTube channel: “Fan wars should never take such an ugly route.”
The Times of India reported on Wednesday (April 3) remarks made by former India batsman, Manoj Tiwary.
He is quoted by the publication as saying it is “pretty big” to replace a captain who won five titles to see the same team fail to win a single game under a new captain. On the chances of Sharma re-taking the helm, Manoj said: “It can happen.”
Earlier last month, all-rounder Pandya declared himself fit to bowl in the IPL, which began on March 22. It was hailed at the time as a boost for Mumbai as well as India ahead of the T20 World Cup in June.
Pandya had been out of action since October due to an ankle injury during a 50-overs World Cup match in Pune.
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