In a dramatic post-match moment, Rohit Sharma’s apparent snub at Hardik Pandya’s embrace stole the spotlight.
Tensions flared after the Mumbai Indians (MI) fell short against the Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium on March 24th. The match marked Hardik Pandya’s captaincy debut for MI against his former team but sparked discussions among fans due to a post-match interaction.
While the night belonged to the Shubman Gill-led Titans, it was the post-match interaction between Pandya and former MI skipper Rohit Sharma that stole the spotlight. A video circulating online shows Pandya attempting to hug Sharma, who appears to shrug him off with a seemingly annoyed expression. Watch the video below:
There might have been tension between Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya following MI’s loss. Sharma, who recently stepped down as captain, was seen having a serious conversation with Pandya, followed by the latterās action. Speculations suggested Sharma might have been offering advice on the chase strategy and might have also reprimanded Pandya for poor shot selection. His overall demeanour indicated frustration with the teamās performance. However, MI co-owner Akash Ambani observed the exchange closely and suggested that there might be more to Rohit’s response than just mere discontent.
This follows a season filled with rumours about Sharma’s discontent with being replaced as captain by Pandya. MI fans echoed this sentiment, showering Sharma with applause throughout the match, while Pandya was not welcomed happily by the Ahmedabad crowd.
Hardik Pandya’s captaincy debut for MI ended in a narrow 6-run defeat against the Gujarat Titans. Despite Rohit Sharma and Dewald Brevis’ heroics, tight bowling from Rashid Khan and Mohit Sharma restricted MI’s chase. Earlier, Jasprit Bumrah led MI’s bowling squad with three wickets and kept GT to 168. However, the Mumbai camp fell short with their batting, resulting in the 12th consecutive opening match loss in the IPL.
Mumbai Indians will next take on the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on March 27th at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
Last Updated on March 25, 2024
