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“Our country is not obsessed with the team, it is obsessed with the individual,” 2011 World Cup-winning star Gautam Gambhir has often said about Indian fans on public platforms, and this obsession has dragged them into a new level now.
Hardik Pandya, the Indian all-rounder with experience of 189 international matches, has emerged as the biggest villain of Indian cricket fans. The 30-year-old has faced a lot of criticism from fans across the country ever since he made his sensational return to Mumbai Indians from Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League. Hardik rejoined MI after proving his captaincy credentials in GT for a couple of seasons and as a result, the MI management decided to go for a new horse to guide them into the future.
Rohit Sharma, who led MI to five titles, was replaced by Hardik as captain overnight to accommodate Hardik as the new man in charge, a move that did not bother Indian and MI fans at all. But was it Hardik’s fault? No…the guy led his previous franchise to a title and a second place finish, so it’s common sense. And who, in the right frame of mind, would turn down a promotion like leading the most successful IPL team of all time? It was simple. MI made Pandya a deal he couldn’t refuse. Nobody would do it.
But it turns out that fans have yet to accept it. They have fallen to a new level, using trending derogatory terms about place. where two years ago he was applauded.
The toxicity of the fans has reached the roof and added a whole new layer to the ‘Rohit vs Hardik’ saga, which as far as you know, is not even true. Obsession with an individual has forced them to spit venom on one of their own. He is the same guy who joined MI in 2015 and after progressing, he not only debuted for India but also became a household name in Indian cricket.
Some have also compared Hardik’s move to that of Luis Figo from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000. The Portuguese winger, who was Barça’s poster boy, joined arch-rivals Real in the summer of 2000 for a world record fee of 60 million euros. (£54 million). When Figo returned to play his first game at the Camp Nou with the Real Madrid shirt, he was not well received. The fans shouted: “Die Figo!” When Figo was going to take another corner, a fan threw a pig’s head onto the pitch.
But is it fair to compare Figo’s transfer with Hardik’s? Figo joined a direct archrival and the rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid is not new in the sporting world. The two Spanish giants have been fighting each other for several decades both on and off the field.
As far as Hardik is concerned, Mumbai Indians did not retain him ahead of IPL 2022 due to retention restrictions, and Gujarat Titans, who joined the league, cashed in. He was named captain and created absolute magic in his first season under Ashish Nehra. But not once during his two-year stint did Hardik bear any ill will towards MI for not retaining him. He even attended his owners’ parties despite being the captain of the Titans.
Facts about emotions
MI, who last won an IPL title in 2020, decided to move on, Rohit Sharma, the icon who led them to five IPL titles. But looking at Rohit’s personal form in the last two years, the evidence was on the wall. The last time Rohit had a season averaging over 30 was in 2016, when he scored 489 runs in 14 matches. And across 2021, 2022 and 2023, Rohit scored just three half-centuries. The swashbuckling opener deserves all the love and respect for what he did for MI as captain, but it’s not the worst decision to move on.
Hardik’s reaction is unreal… and unfair. He returned to a franchise where he began his career. He made him who he is now. The rivalry between MI and GT is nothing like Barcelona-Real Madrid or Manchester United-Liverpool. The Titans are a two-year-old franchise and there have been players in the past who made the MI-CSK switch, the ‘El Clásico’ of the IPL. But no one has faced the kind of rejection that Hardik suffers at a crucial time in his and Indian cricket’s career.
Immediately after the IPL, Hardik will represent the same fans with the Indian team in the T20 World Cup in the US and West Indies. Hardik’s crucial role in ensuring that the Indian team strikes the right balance for big tournaments cannot be denied. India has keenly felt the absence of this fast bowling all-rounder in numerous ICC events. Currently, Hardik is the best option available for India in this regard.
A few years ago, the multi-talented star faced a situation where the world turned against him over certain misogynistic comments on a chat show. She publicly apologized and served a ban for her behavior. Even though people turned against him, Hardik thrived under pressure and became an integral part of the team once again in the ODI World Cup 2019. Hardik knows very well that “when your back is against the wall, break that damn wall.” thing,” and the more pressure he faces, the more likely he is to crush it with just as much ferocity.
