[Watch] An MI Fan And Son Burn Jerseys In Protest Against Hardik Pandya Ahead Of IPL 2024

The majority of the Mumbai Indians fans are upset with the franchise making Hardik Pandya their new captain, replacing Rohit Sharma at the helm ahead of the IPL 2024. Now, in a recent viral video, an MI fan and his son burn their jerseys to show their displeasure at the franchise replacing Rohit as their skipper with the Baroda all-rounder.

Rohit Sharma was unceremoniously replaced as the Mumbai captain days before the IPL 2024 auction in December. Hardik Pandya, who returned to MI through a trade after two seasons leading the Gujarat Titans, was named the new skipper of the franchise. This brought an end to the era of captaincy of Rohit, who led MI to all of their five IPL titles between 2013 and 2020.

While the MI fans initially were happy to see Hardik Pandya return to the franchise where he spent seven seasons from 2015 to 2021, they were unhappy and furious with the all-rounder being given the captaincy. It has been learned that Hardik Pandya had put in a precondition of being given the leadership role ahead of the trade, a demand which Mumbai Indians management and owners agreed to.

Watch: An MI fan and his son burn jerseys as a show of protest against Hardik Pandya and the franchise

In a viral video this week, a Mumbai Indians fan and his little son burn their MI jerseys as a show of protest against the franchise’s decision to name Hardik Pandya their new captain.

Watch the video here:

Me and my little son burning newly bought MI Jersey 💔 what you have done @mipaltan pic.twitter.com/QROBQZjH05

— Sachin. (@Malevolntx) March 15, 2024

There have several rounds of rumours suggesting a strike between Rohit and Pandya, and also of Jasprit Bumrah, too, being upset with this shift in the captaincy of the franchise.

Now, with one week to go for the tournament, fast bowling coach Lasith Malinga has come out and clarified that the rumours are false, and the players remain good friends.

Malinga said in an interview, “Rohit and Hardik are good friends. He went to GT and won the IPL, then finished runner-up. So, he has good experience and he has a good bond with boom (Bumrah), Rohit. We have a good unit.”

MI will kick start their IPL 2024 campaign on March 22 in Ahmedabad against Shubman Gill’s Gujarat Titans.

Also Read: IPL 2024: Gautam Gambhir Named The X-Factor Of Kolkata Knight Riders’ Squad