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Hardik Pandya Faces Backlash As Rohit Sharma Fans Remove His Poster Ahead Of IPL 2024

image-lt2sk2fhHardik Pandya poster removed from college (X.com)

In a surprising turn of events, a group of students compelled the college management to remove a poster featuring Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Hardik Pandya. Reports suggest that these students were ardent fans of Rohit Sharma, expressing their discontent with the poster portraying Pandya as the Mumbai Indians skipper.

The discord between Rohit and Hardik emerged just before the Indian Premier League auctions when Mumbai Indians traded the latter from Gujarat Titans (GT) after releasing Cameron Green. 

One of the most successful IPL franchises, Mumbai Indians shook the cricketing world by appointing Pandya as the captain for the upcoming IPL 2024 season, replacing Rohit. This announcement elicited strong emotional reactions from Rohit's passionate fanbase, with many expressing disappointment, anger, and a sense of being let down.

Despite the announcement of the change in captaincy, a section of Mumbai Indians fans remains dissatisfied with the decision. Loyal fans of Rohit Sharma have criticized Pandya on various social media platforms, urging him to relinquish the captaincy. These fans have also criticized the MI management for making such a decision.

Junior Pandya has frequently faced backlash, with the latest incident occurring at Mukesh Patel College in Mumbai. Students at the college compelled the management to remove a poster featuring Pandya, objecting to his presence at an event scheduled at the college.

image-lt2qvg4wHardik Pandya poster (X.com)

Mumbai Indians addressed the captaincy change, emphasizing that it was a strategic decision aligned with their future plans. They expressed gratitude to Rohit Sharma for his outstanding service to the franchise since 2013, during which the team secured five IPL titles. 

Team director Mahela Jayawardene and head coach Mark Boucher elaborated on the rationale behind the decision. However, despite the explanations provided by the MI management, Rohit Sharma fans appear to remain dissatisfied.

Pandya, who has been sidelined from competitive cricket due to a left ankle injury sustained during India's league match in the 2023 Men's ODI World Cup, is set to make his return to competitive cricket in the DY Patil T20 Cup, commencing Monday in Navi Mumbai. 

Leading the Reliance 1 team, Pandya will kick off their campaign against Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL).

As the IPL approaches, it will be interesting to see how Pandya responds to the challenge of leading a high-profile franchise in place of Rohit. While he tasted success as the GT skipper, guiding them to the IPL title in their inaugural season in 2022, leading Mumbai Indians will present a different and potentially more demanding experience.