There were no boos for Hardik Pandya at the Wankhede Stadium.Report claims 18,000 strong reasons | Cricket News

Hardik Pandya finally got some reprieve as the Mumbai Indians skipper did not face the hostility of the crowd at the Wankhede Stadium during Sunday’s IPL match against Delhi Capitals. Since the match was being played on Reliance Foundation’s ESA (Education and Sports for All) day, the stands were packed with about 18,000 children from various NGOs and the noise was all about cheering for the home team. Pandya has been booed in his first three games so far at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad and the Wankhede Stadium and fans’ anger.

Pandya, 29, has become a five-time opener since leaving former team Gujarat Titans to rejoin Mumbai Indians, replacing Rohit Sharma. After captaining the IPL champions, he became a target side for fans both inside and outside the stadium.

Ahead of Sunday’s match, former India captain and former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly urged fans to stop booing Pandya and said it was not his fault that he was brought back as captain.

“I don’t think they should boo Hardik Pandya. It’s not right,” Ganguly told the media during Delhi Capitals’ training session on Saturday.

“The franchisee made him captain. It’s not Hardik’s fault that he was made captain. All of us need to understand that.

“Obviously, Rohit Sharma is on a different level. The way he has performed in this team, the way he has performed in the Indian team, as a captain and as a player is on a different level,” said also Delhi Capitals cricket director added Ganguly, Director.

Pandya was booed during Mumbai Indians’ first home match against Rajasthan Royals here on April 1, when former India and Mumbai cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar Manjrekar urged fans to “behave” during the toss.