IPL 2024: Hardik Pandya Shoves Aside Sri Lankan Legend Lasith Malinga's Hug Attempt
IPL 2024: The footage captures Pandya pushing away MI bowling coach Lasith Malinga during the customary post-match handshake, without even acknowledging him.
The Mumbai Indians' skipper, Hardik Pandya, is finding himself in the limelight for all the wrong reasons in IPL 2024 season. Taking over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma, Pandya's leadership skills have been under intense scrutiny.
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Fans and analysts alike are closely watching his every move on the field. Last week, during a match against the Gujarat Titans, Pandya faced a hostile reception from the home fans, enduring continuous booing throughout the game.
The situation didn't improve during Mumbai Indians' match against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad on March 27, as the crowd targeted him with chants of 'Rohit, Rohit,' accompanied by further boos.
Hardik Pandya 'pushed away' Lasith Malinga
Does Hardik Pandya kicked Lasith Malinga? His hands, face reaction same story.
¡ª Satya Prakash (@Satya_Prakash08) March 28, 2024
Not a good way to treat legend like Lasith Malinga. #HardikPandya #SRHvMI pic.twitter.com/Yg5a5hNRTE
Adding to the scrutiny, a viral video surfaced, showing an incident after the game between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians. The footage captures Pandya pushing away MI bowling coach Lasith Malinga during the customary post-match handshake, without even acknowledging him.
Another viral video featuring Hardik Pandya & Lasith Malinga
Earlier, another viral video showcased a contentious moment between Pandya and Malinga during the intense clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The clip depicts Pandya displacing Malinga from his seat at the dugout, intensifying the spotlight on Pandya's leadership.
On the field, Mumbai Indians have had a challenging start under Pandya's captaincy, suffering defeats in their first two games of IPL 2024.
Following a six-run loss to Gujarat Titans, MI faced a daunting challenge in their latest encounter against Sunrisers Hyderabad, as the opposition posted a formidable total of 277/3, surpassing the previous record for the highest runs scored in an IPL match.
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Despite a spirited effort in the run-chase, MI fell short by 31 runs, further amplifying concerns about their campaign.
With two consecutive losses, Mumbai Indians are eager for redemption as they gear up to face Rajasthan Royals next on Monday. This upcoming match, their first home game of the season, presents an opportunity for Mumbai Indians to turn their fortunes around.
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