Kieron Pollard Wants Fans To Respect Hardik Pandya: Mumbai Indians batting coach Keiron Pollard wants the fans to support and respect team captain Hardik Pandya after he was singled out following the recent defeat against Chennai Super Kings.
MI took on arch-rivals CSK in their most recent IPL 2024 match. The Men in Yellow put up a solid score of 206 in the first innings. While chasing, Mumbai fell 20 runs short despite a brilliant century by Rohit Sharma.
Pandya was brought back to MI before the start of this season and was announced as team captain, replacing five-time IPL-winning captain Rohit Sharma. This decision is not supported by everybody, especially not the fans.
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In most grounds MI has played, especially their home ground of Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Hardik has been singled out by fans and booed vehemently by the MI faithful.
While treatment like this is not the best behaviour by the crowd, MI did lose its first three matches on the trot. With signs of turmoil in the team, the booing by fans was less anything against Pandya but more like a sign of support for Rohit Sharma.
Against CSK, the world-class all-rounder has a net negative game. First, as a bowler, he conceded 20 runs in the last four balls of the innings to MS Dhoni, the runs which were ultimately the difference between a win and a loss. He finished the game with figures 2/43 in three overs.
Then, while batting, the captain was dismissed for 2-off-6 at a crucial juncture of the game when his side needed him to score and score quickly.
Kieron Pollard Wants Fans To Respect Hardik Pandya
Following the match, Pollard, who is a Mumbai Indians legend in his own right, praised Hardik and all the effort he has put into himself and the team in this tournament.
“Pandya is an optimistic individual. He’s been excellent with the group. There are good days and bad days in cricket. I’m witnessing someone who is putting in a tremendous effort for the success of Mumbai Indians,” said Pollard.
Pointing out how even the best players have bad games in their career, the West Indian legend said –
“There will be days like that for you. I’m exhausted from pointing fingers at specific people. In the end, cricket is a team sport.”
Finally, Pollard pointed out that in six weeks, Hardik Pandya will represent India in the T20 World Cup, so fans should back him and celebrate his good performances.
“In less than six weeks, he will represent the country. We will all be cheering for him and want him to succeed when that time comes. It’s high time we start supporting him as he is one of the greatest all-rounders India has ever produced,” he added
Following the defeat against CSK, Mumbai Indians is eighth on the league table with two wins in six matches. They will next face the Punjab Kings at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on April 18.
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