Hardik Pandya faced a booing in IPL 2024, but maintained its coolness. The tidal returned in 2025, Gooing and Mumbai Indians gave results
Hardik Pandya’s journey from being booed at his home ground to receiving thunderous applause at the Wankhede Stadium has been nothing short of a volte-face. In IPL 2024, after replacing Rohit Sharma as Mumbai Indians (MI) captain, Pandya faced hostility from fans disillusioned by the sudden leadership shift. But in IPL 2025, with MI currently placed fourth and pushing hard for a playoff spot, the tide has turned.
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar highlighted the redemption during a recent appearance on Star Sports, acknowledging how Pandya has gradually won back the trust of the Mumbai crowd. While Gavaskar didn’t mention it, Pandya’s X-factor as an India player played a part too. He was a crucial figure in both the ICC trophy wins (Champions Trophy & T20 World Cup), thus winning the hearts not only of MI fans but of the entire nation.
What did Gavaskar say about Hardik Pandya?
“What we saw from last year to this year has been the fact that he also got the support of the crowd backing him. Last year, he would have been a little bit unsettled by the fact that the Mumbai crowd and the Mumbai supporters were not really backing him so much. But this year, they are all behind him. And they are all urging him to go on to win. They have got one game at home on the 21st,” said Sunil Gavaskar.
What has set Pandya apart this season, Gavaskar noted, is his composure. Despite the pressure, the 30-year-old has shown maturity in handling his team and responding to tough moments on the field.
“That is where we will see how they come back. And the way they have come back, we are talking about his thinking and we are talking about how his calming influence is. That is because he has not shown any emotions on the field. When there has been a misfield, when there has been a drop catch, he has just turned on his back and he has gone back to his fielding position.”
“A lot of times, when the captain has a little bit of gesticulation, then the fielder also gets a little bit nervous. But he hasn’t done that. And so that’s the reason why Mumbai have come back so well. They normally do that. And once again, this year, I am hoping, as a Mumbai Indians fan, that they will continue to go on to win,” he added.
Hardik Pandya – IPL 2024 vs IPL 2024
Metric IPL 2024 IPL 2025 Matches 14 11 Runs 216 158 Batting Av/SR 18.00/143.04 26.33/168.08 Wickets 11 13 Bowling Av/SR 35.18/19.6 19.76/12.9
Editor’s Pick
Cricket
IPL & PSL resume as India-Pakistan hostilities take a break
Top Stories
Share Article
Follow us on social media
Why didn’t you like our article so that we could develop?
ICC test ranking
ICC ODI ranking
ICC T20i ranking
