Mumbai Indians’ under-pressure skipper Hardik Pandya affirmed his team’s unwavering spirit, emphasizing their commitment to fighting on. Mumbai Indians has suffered three consecutive defeats in the ongoing IPL season and Pandya has faced fans’ backlash since taking over from Rohit Sharma as captain. “If there’s one thing you should know about this team, we never give up. We’ll keep fighting, we’ll keep going,” Hardik posted on X.
The Mumbai Indians’ campaign in the 2024 IPL began on a dismal note, with three consecutive losses leaving them at the bottom of the table. The change in leadership from Rohit Sharma to Hardik Pandya has faced scrutiny, with questions raised about Pandya’s captaincy decisions, such as tactical choices regarding bowlers and batting order.
The atmosphere at the Wankhede Stadium during Mumbai Indians’ home game on Monday further underscored the discontent among fans, as chants of ‘Rohit Rohit’ reverberated, prompting Rohit Sharma himself to urge the crowd to support Pandya.
Despite the setbacks, Mumbai Indians are no strangers to slow starts in the IPL. In 2015, they overcame an early losing streak to ultimately clinch the title, demonstrating their capacity for resilience and turnaround.
In their recent match against Rajasthan Royals, Mumbai Indians struggled to post a competitive total, managing only 125/9. Riyan Parag’s explosive batting propelled Rajasthan Royals to a comfortable six-wicket victory, extending Mumbai Indians’ winless streak.
Hardik Pandya emerged as the top scorer for Mumbai Indians with a brisk 34 off 21 deliveries, while Tilak Varma contributed a crucial 32 runs. However, their efforts were not enough to thwart Rajasthan Royals’ dominant bowling performance.