Hardik was subjected to unruly behaviour from the crowd during the IPL 2024 season.
Ahead of the IPL 2024 season, Hardik Pandya left the Gujarat Titans (GT) in a sensational all-cash deal to join Mumbai Indians (MI). He was also handed the captaincy by the franchise management, replacing Rohit Sharma.
This decision, however, wasn’t well received by a section of Mumbai fans, who heckled the all-rounder throughout the cash-rich league in different venues. Under his leadership, MI finished at the bottom in the team standings, winning only four out of 14 league matches.
A lot has changed since then. Hardik went on to play an instrumental role in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 and Champions Trophy 2025 triumphs, thereby winning over the fans once again.
During the IPL 2025 season, MI also staged a brilliant comeback with six consecutive victories to qualify for the playoffs. The Hardik Pandya-led side bowed out of the tournament in Qualifier 2 after losing to Punjab Kings (PBKS).
Reflecting on Hardik’s torrid time in the 2024 edition, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla revealed that the governing body reached out to the MI skipper.
Shukla further stated that Hardik always knew he would be subjected to unruly behaviour from the crowd after taking over captaincy from Rohit, who has led MI to as many as five IPL titles.
“When such incidents happen, people within the BCCI do reach out to players not to worry. In Hardik's case, Rohit Sharma's fan base did not like it. But the matter is done. Neither did Rohit Sharma provoke anybody, and Hardik always knew this could happen and was mature,” Shukla said in an interview on the official YouTube handle of the UPT20 league.
“He did not let it affect him. He did not get emotionally carried away. Then, when you start performing, fans start applauding by themselves again,” he added.
Hardik Pandya will next be seen in action during the Asia Cup 2025, which will be played in the T20I format in the UAE from September 9 to September 28. India will open their campaign against UAE on September 10 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.