The Mumbai Indians (MI) camp is reportedly fractured, as per the reports, following their second consecutive defeat in IPL 2024. This comes on the heels of a massive loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad and raises questions about team unity under new captain Hardik Pandya.
Mumbai Indians struggles on and off field
On the field, MI’s bowling attack conceded a mammoth 277 runs – the highest total in IPL history. Their chase fell short by 31 runs, despite a valiant effort from the batters.
Off the field, report by Jagran News suggest a divide between two factions: ‘Team Rohit Sharma’ and ‘Team Hardik Pandya.’
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Rohit Sharma alleged discontent
These reports stem from Rohit Sharma’s supposed unhappiness with relinquishing the captaincy to Hardik Pandya. Speculation suggests Rohit Sharma, the current Indian captain across all formats, wasn’t thrilled with the decision. This alleged discontent may be fuelling the reported dressing room divide.
Rohit Sharma vs Hardik Pandya
Players like Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, and others are said to be in ‘Team Rohit Sharma.’ Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan and a few others supposedly align with ‘Team Hardik Pandya.’ This split loyalty could potentially impact team chemistry and performance.
Hardik Pandya faces fan backlash
Hardik Pandya’s captaincy has also been met with external disapproval. Fans in Ahmedabad, his former IPL home with the Gujarat Titans, booed him throughout their opening match against MI. He continues to face online trolling and abuse, creating a challenging atmosphere both on and off the field after SRH match.
Unprecedented Fan Discontent
While players facing fan backlash is not uncommon, the intensity directed towards Hardik is reportedly unprecedented in the IPL. The constant booing and online abuse highlight the strong emotions surrounding him becoming the Mumbai Indians captain.
Uncertainty looms for MI’s Future
With a struggling team and a potentially fractured dressing room, Mumbai Indians face an uphill battle. Whether they can overcome these challenges and unify under Hardik Pandya’s leadership remains to be seen. The upcoming IPL 2024 matches will be crucial in determining the team’s fate and the validity of these reported divisions.
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