The Mumbai Indians (MI) aren’t taking any chances. Getting ready for their first home game at the Wankhede Stadium, the franchise is getting ready for Hardik Pandya’s welcome at his ‘old’ home. After getting booed, heckled, and harassed by the crowd in Ahmedabad and Hyderabad, MI are bracing for a not-so-warm welcome for their captain.
Before the MI vs RR match on April 1, the franchise has released ‘tips’ for fans to follow if they want a hassle-free experience at the Wankhede. The plethora of rules includes some that are eyebrow-raising. To ensure that Hardik Pandya isn’t harassed, these three rules have been specifically put into effect:
- Offensive signage
- Offensive/threatening conduct
- Discriminatory language or gesture
These ‘rules’ may seem standard and are applied at every stadium across India. But for the franchise to come out and share the rule, especially hours before the match takes place, clearly shows how wary they are about the ‘welcome’ their skipper might receive.
Hardik Pandya’s rough treatment in the IPL 2024
This comes days after reports of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) looking to curb offensive behavior at the Wankhede by ejecting and detaining fans who have a go at the Mumbai Indians skipper. The MCA came out and refuted the claims, but it looks like that franchise is taking things into its own hands and trying its best to protect its new leader from unwarranted abuse.
Hardik Pandya was welcomed with jeers when he took the field on March 24 at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Despite playing in his home, the crowd did not spare him. Having left the Gujarat Titans for the ‘old’ franchise, it seems like his home crowd and his ‘new’ franchise fans didn’t take the transfer very well.
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