Wasim Akram On MI Fans Booing Hardik Pandya: Pakistani pace legend Wasim Akram discusses Mumbai Indians fans’ issue with Hardik Pandya and claims that Indian fans tend to hold grudges.
The appointment of Pandya as MI captain has not been a successful move so far. Since replacing five-time IPL-winning captain Rohit Sharma from the leadership position, Hardik has been booed and jeered by the fans of his own franchise. Whenever he steps onto the pitch, the MI fans don’t forget to remind him that he is disliked by them.
And why? Because he replaced a Mumbai icon Rohit Sharma from the captaincy spot. Well, he didn’t do it, the franchise ownership did. But the fans are dropping the brunt of their frustration on the 31-year-old.
It has not been a successful season for Hardik on the field as well. He has made a few tactical errors here and there regarding which overs should be bowled by whom and who should come out to bat in which spot.
On a personal level, he does not have a fabulous IPL either. For the supposed best all-rounder in India, 151 runs with an average of 21.57 just four wickets with an average of 46.5, and a near-11 economy are just not good enough.
As for the Mumbai Indians under his captaincy, the side is eighth in the league table with six points in eight matches.
Wasim Akram On MI Fans Booing Hardik Pandya
But Wasim Akram feels that the fans’ issue with fans has gone a little too far. The former World Cup winner reckons that the cricketing fans in the Indian subcontinent tend to hold grudges and do not move on.
“This is the issue that Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India are facing. We tend to hold onto grudges. We tell our kids that on how Pandya was appointed captain 20 years ago. We never move on. I believe fans should have a little composure. after all he plays for the Mumbai Indians and can turn things around for you. It makes no sense to criticize your own player. You can be negative for a while, but then you have to move on,”
Akram said in a recent discussion with Sportkeeda.
We must remember that Hardik Pandya is a successful IPL captain. Under his leadership, the Gujarat Titans reached the IPL final two years in a row, winning in 2022 and finishing runner-up in 2023.
Wasim Akram also feels that MI appointing Pandya as their captain is a step for the franchise’s long-term future, saying,
“In franchise cricket, teams often make decisions with the long-term future in mind. For example, CSK transitioned their captaincy with a long-term perspective. Mumbai Indians may have had a similar long-term plan. In my view, Rohit Sharma should have continued as captain for one more year before passing the role to Hardik Pandya. This was likely not a personal decision, but rather part of a broader succession strategy.”
Hardik Pandya and the Mumbai Indians will play Delhi Capitals in their next match on April 27 in Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium.
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