The new MI skipper Pandya was booed by the fans when he came out for the toss while chants of ‘Rohit Rohit’ (former captain Rohit Sharma) reverberated throughout the entire stadium.
During the toss, when Ravi Shastri introduced the captains, Pandya was met with boos from the fans.Even after winning the toss, they continued to jeer at him when he began to speak.
Former England player and commentator Kevin Pietersen expressed his astonishment upon witnessing the crowd’s reaction, stating that he has never seen an Indian player receive such treatment before.
“I have never seen any Indian player getting booed like they are booing Hardik Pandya here in Ahmedabad. This is a rare happening,” Pietersen said on air.
Pietersen also raised doubts about Pandya’s decision to bowl the first over himself instead of opting for Jasprit Bumrah.
Why is Jasprit Bumrah not opening the bowling? I don’t understand this”. Fellow commentator Sunil Gavaskar endorsed his view: “Very good question. Very, very good question.”
Meanwhile, Pandya credited his birth place Gujarat for his success but made it clear that cricketing birth took place in Mumbai.
“Feels good to be back. My birthplace is Gujarat, a lot of success came in Gujarat, very grateful to the crowd and this state. My cricketing birth happened in Mumbai, so really good to be back,” Pandya said at the toss.