IPL 2024: Aakash Chopra's old statement goes viral after Ahmedabad crowd boos Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya won the toss for MI and chose to bowl first in his former IPL home ground, Ahmedabad.

Hardik Pandya returned to his former home ground in Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad as his Mumbai Indians (MI) took on Gujarat Titans (GT) on March 24, 2024. However, Pandya, who won the IPL 2022 with GT franchise at this same venue, was booed loudly by the crowd when he came out for a toss.

Hardik Pandya captained GT for two IPL seasons after being chosen in draft for the franchise ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction. MI let him go following his disappointing IPL 2021 performance due to retention rules. Hardik was unexpectedly elected GT captain and went on to win the IPL 2022 for his team in their inaugural season.

Pandya continued his success as a captain as he was then handed the reins of the Indian T20I team in Rohit Sharma’s absence. In the IPL 2023, Hardik Pandya led the GT team to their second straight final. However, GT lost to the Chennai Super Kings, captained by MS Dhoni, in the final in Ahmedabad.

Then, prior to the IPL 2024 mini-auction, Hardik Pandya was moved to the MI in an all-cash transaction with GT. He was then chosen captain of the MI, breaking Rohit Sharma’s decade-long reign as MI captain, during which he won five IPL titles for the side.

“I want Hardik Pandya to get booed in Ahmedabad”- Akash Chopra’s statement goes viral

When Hardik Pandya walked out for the toss along with new Gujarat Titans (GT) captain Shubman Gill, the Ahmedabad crowd began booing him. The hooting got louder when presenter Ravi Shastri announced Pandya’s name and asked him to call during the toss.

This moment reminded people of former India opener Aakash Chopra’s statement which he had made exactly one month ago in February. He had said that he wants the Ahmedabad crowd to boo Hardik Pandya after the initial itinerary of the IPL 2024 was announced.

“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.

“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,” Chopra added.

Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya won the toss in his first match for MI as captain and chose to bowl first.

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