IPL 2024: Why Aakash Chopra wants Ahmedabad crowd to "Boo" Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya has returned to Mumbai Indians and will captain them in the IPL 2024.

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has sparked debate with his comments regarding all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s return to Ahmedabad (to face Gujarat Titans) as a Mumbai Indians captain in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024).

Mumbai Indians were involved in a pre-season player trade where they on-boarded former Gujarat Titans skipper Hardik Pandya. Soon after Hardik’s arrival, he took over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma, who led MI to a record five IPL title wins during his leadership.

Mumbai Indians paid Rs. 15 crore to GT to bring back Hardik Pandya. However, they let-go of Cameron Green to balance their purse and make the process of on-boarding their all-rounder Pandya smoother.

However, this marked a significant leadership change for the Mumbai Indians with Pandya returning to the franchise after leading the Gujarat Titans for two IPL seasons. Pandya previously played for Mumbai Indians, contributing significantly to their trophy wins in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020.

Aakash Chopra wants Ahmedabad crowd to “Boo” Hardik Pandya

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra expressed his desire for the Ahmedabad crowd to “boo” Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya, citing his decision to leave the Gujarat Titans (GT) after leading them to an IPL title and a finale appearance in two seasons with the franchise.

“I want Hardik Pandya to get booed in Ahmedabad. I’ll tell you why. First IPL season, Mumbai vs Kolkata. We were playing at the Wankhede Stadium. Ajit Agarkar was in our team and we had to take him off the boundary because he was Mumbai’s boy, playing against Mumbai, in Mumbai and getting booed by the Wankhede crowd. So we put him back inside the circle because it was not nice,” Chopra said on Jio Cinema as the IPL 2024 schedule was announced by the BCCI.

The cricketer-turned-commentator also added that it would be fun if the fans decide to gibe Hardik Pandya. “Now Hardik Pandya goes to Mumbai after winning the championship once, leading the team to the final the next time. And not just that but choosing to leave the franchise. If there isn’t any heartburn in the public of Ahmedabad, if they don’t feel hurt, where is the fun? I am expecting. No, I am hoping – don’t tell anyone – that Hardik goes for the toss and people go ‘Boo’. That’s where the league matures,” the former India opener added.

The five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians will start their IPL 2024 campaign against last year’s runners-up Gujarat Titans on March 24, Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

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