Mumbai Indians had a very torrid start to their home campaign at the IPL 2024 against Rajasthan Royals on Monday as their batters failed to fire. It has been a season to forget for Mumbai Indians with three successive losses seeing them at the bottom of the 10-team points table. To add to MI’s troubles, the captaincy change from Rohit Sharma to Hardik Pandya has left many fans angry. Pandya has been getting booed during MI’s matches, same was the case on Monday at the Wankhede Stadium.
Mumbai Indians management not allowing any Rohit Sharma posters inside the stadium.
This is hypocrisy at its best. Fans are biggest Stakeholders in IPL and cricket.
Then why should fans buy your tickets??.Shame ! #RohitSharma #MumbaiIndians pic.twitter.com/tomvTRWIhf
— (@retiredMIfans) April 1, 2024
Rumours have also been rampant that Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) have started planning steps against fans targetting Hardik.
However, MCA have denied the same, saying that they will be following BCCI’s guidelines on crowd behaviour.
“No instructions given for this specific game. There have been set guidelines issued by BCCI on spectators behaviour over the years, that is process that is followed,” an MCA statement read, as quoted by News 18.
Talking about the game, A clinical Rajasthan Royals romped home for a third win on the trot in the Indian Premier League with a six-wicket hammering of Mumbai Indians, whose skipper Hardik Pandya continued to be on the receiving end of fans’ anger, on Monday.
After Yuzvendra Chahal (3/11) and Trent Boult (3/22) combined to suffocate Mumbai Indians with the bat, restricting them to 125/9, Riyan Parag (54 not out) churned out yet another top-drawer knock to take Rajasthan Royals to the first spot in the IPL points table.
The 22-year-old Parag continued to make giant strides this season with a knock that reflected his maturity and aggression, dishing out some spectacular hits while being single-minded to not relent until his side was over the line.
Parag’s knock was studded with five fours and three sixes as Royals reached 127/4 from 15.3 overs, winning with 27 balls to spare.
Meanwhile, there was no letup for Pandya who was booed on several occasions in Mumbai Indians’ first home game. It started with Pandya being booed when he took field for warm-up drills and the fans hit the player hard again when he came out for the toss.
With PTI inputs
Topics mentioned in this article
