Hardik Pandya, the captain of the Mumbai Indians (MI), was visibly frustrated during the first innings of the IPL 2024 match against Delhi Capitals (DC) on Saturday. Pandya’s fiery temperament came to the fore after DC openers gave a blazing start against hapless MI bowlers.
‘Umps, Umps’ yells Pandya
The DC scoreboard read a commanding 92/0 at the end of the powerplay, thanks to Jake Fraser-McGurk’s whirlwind 84 off just 27 balls. After two dismissals, Rishabh Pant walked out to bat.
However, what followed was not an immediate battle between bat and ball. Instead, Pant’s deliberate delay in taking his guard irked Pandya. A video doing the rounds on social media shows a visibly frustrated Pandya stationed at long-on, repeatedly yelling “Umps! Umps!”
Pandya’s yelling suggests that Pant’s slow approach might have been a tactical ploy to disrupt Mumbai’s bowling rhythm and potentially affect their over rate. Whatever the motive, Pandya was clearly not having it. He seemed desperate to get the umpires involved.
