• Home
  • Who Said What
  • Staggered By It Vaughan And Gilchrist Come Out In Support Of Pandya Amid Fan Backlash

'Staggered By It': Vaughan And Gilchrist Come Out In Support Of Pandya Amid Fan Backlash

Hardik has faced a lot of fan backlash [AP] Hardik has faced a lot of fan backlash [AP]

In the ongoing IPL 2024, Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya has faced intense ridicule from spectators. While instances of Indian cricketers receiving abuse on social media are not uncommon, the never-before-seen act of a home team captain being booed by home fans occurred during MI's recent match against Rajasthan Royals (RR). This surprising turn of events left two cricketing legends, Michael Vaughan and Adam Gilchrist, baffled.

Vaughan, Gilchrist come in support of Pandya

Reflecting on the unfortunate turn of events that took place at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, Vaughan and Gilchrist discussed the woeful occurrence on the Club Prairie Fire podcast.

"I have never heard them boo, and certainly never heard them boo one of their own. And I get it when he played for Mumbai at the Gujarat Titans. He's left them, and he was the captain the previous two years. So I kind of get that in that kind of pantomime. But that continued to Hyderabad and got booed by the Orange Army to then at the Wankhede, where he is the local boy playing for the Mumbai Indians and is getting booed by that crowd at the Wankhede. I'm just staggered by it. I've never, ever seen it in India,"  Vaughan said.

"I know what it feels like. I will get on to Hardik and I will get him through. I'm the boo whisperer. I know how to get inside their minds and get them through. I don't have Hardik's number for Hardik but if I can get on to him, I will get him on and we can get inside his mind and help him through,"  Gilchrist echoed.

Pandya returned to the franchise where he began his IPL career, aiming to reverse the Mumbai Indians' decline. However, the crowd has subjected the newly-appointed MI captain to a demoralising and unacceptable reception.

Despite his efforts, the MI skipper has failed to win over the crowd, and three consecutive defeats in this year's IPL have only exacerbated his situation.