Hardik Pandya, the captain of Mumbai Indians (MI), was subjected to personal attacks and hostility after his team’s loss to Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL 2024, which effectively ended their campaign. Despite being named vice-captain of India’s T20 World Cup squad, Pandya faced a dismal evening as he was dismissed for a golden duck in the match.
MI, the five-time champions, have struggled throughout the IPL 2024 season, currently languishing at No. 9 in the points table with seven defeats. The decision to replace Rohit Sharma with Pandya as captain did not yield the desired results, and Pandya bore the brunt of the team’s poor performance.
Former India opener Wasim Jaffer came out in support of Pandya, condemning the personal trolling and attacks he has faced. Jaffer encouraged Pandya to stay strong, reminding him that the same people who are criticizing him now will praise him in the future.
“Criticize his performance as much as you want, but it’s extremely disappointing to see the constant personal trolling and attacks. Stay strong @hardikpandya7, next month you’ll be playing crucial knocks in the WC, and the same people will be singing your praise,” Jaffer tweeted.
Despite the challenges faced in the IPL, Pandya’s focus now shifts to the T20 World Cup, where he, along with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, is expected to leave for the Caribbean on May 21. Pandya will be looking to make a significant impact in the tournament, aiming for redemption after a disappointing IPL season.
Hardik Pandya has played a crucial role in previous tournaments, such as the 2022 T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan and the ODI World Cup in 2023, before being sidelined due to an injury. As vice-captain for the T20 World Cup, Pandya will have a bigger role and responsibilities to fulfill, and he will be hoping to perform well and silence his critics when the tournament begins on June 2 in the West Indies and USA.
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