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'Never Happened With An Indian' - Pietersen Surprised By Boos Ringing Out For Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya was booed at Ahmedabad during MI vs GT clash in IPL 2024 (X.com)Hardik Pandya was booed at Ahmedabad during MI vs GT clash in IPL 2024 (X.com)

In a humiliating incident, Mumbai Indians newly minted captain Hardik Pandya was booed by the Ahmedabad crowd during an IPL clash against Gujarat Titans and seeing Indian fans' aggressive reception towards their own player baffled former England captain Kevin Pietersen.

Hardik Pandya had his worst nightmare come true during the IPL 2024 season opener game against Gujarat Titans held in Ahmedabad last night. The all-rounder had ditched GT to rejoin MI, and that transfer surely irked Gujarat fans.

Therefore, the Ahmedabad crowd booed Hardik Pandya relentlessly during the entire season opener. The boos only intensified as the game progressed and reached its peak as MI lost the game by the barest of margins.

Having said that, the relentless boos were hard to ignore, and it dropped on former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen's ears, who was commentating while the entire saga unfolded.

Pietersen looked baffled by the hostile reception for Hardik Pandya and said on air that Indian fans never boo their own players. That's not their reputation. What he was seeing unfold before his eyes was a rare occurrence on the Indian soil.

“Every time Hardik goes anywhere near the ball, the boos ring out. I have never seen that happen with an Indian player,” Pietersen said in commentary.

The commentary panel, which consisted of Ian Bishop and Brian Lara, added to Pietersen's conversation, saying that Hardik had to win over the fans' hearts all over again by winning some games for the Indian cricket team in future.

That being said, amid intense criticism, MI lost to GT by 6 runs in a 169-run chase. The lack of firepower from the lower order and Hardik Pandya's failure to finish in the final over contributed to MI's first season loss. 

Mumbai Indians (MI) will face Sunrisers Hyderabad next on Wednesday at Hyderabad.