Former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer expressed his disappointment with fans mocking Indian all-rounder and Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya for his poor performances in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), claiming that during the T20 World Cup, which begins in June in the West Indies and the United States, the all-rounder will play some crucial knocks and the trolls will sing his praises—Hardik’s disappointing season with the bat, ball, and as captain continued as MI suffered their seventh loss in ten games this season, falling to the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by four wickets at Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. Despite taking two wickets, Pandya was dismissed for a golden duck.
Pandya has scored just 197 runs this season, with an average of 21.88 a strike rate of 150.38, and his best score of 46 runs. He has also taken only six wickets with an average of 42.16 and an economy rate of 11.00.
The main reason for his social media trolling and hatred is his controversial return to MI after a two-year stint with the Gujarat Titans (GT), where he won the title in his debut season as captain in 2022. With him taking over as captain from five-time IPL champion Rohit Sharma, he has become the target of a fan war, with Rohit fans accusing him of betraying the franchise and the captain who helped put him on the map.
Jaffer took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, “Criticize his performance all you want, but it’s extremely disappointing to see the constant personal trolling and attacks. Stay strong, @Hardikpandya7. Next month, you’ll be playing crucial knocks in the World Cup, and the same people will be praising you. #LSGvMI #T20WorldCup.”
Criticise his performance as much as you want but it's extremely disappointing to see the constant personal trolling and attacks. Stay strong @hardikpandya7 next month you'll be playing crucial knocks in WC and the same people will be singing your praise. #LSGvMI #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/rYk0kozjMy
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) April 30, 2024
Notably, Hardik has made significant contributions to India’s white-ball cricket team in the past. Whether it’s his 40 runs against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2022 and his century partnership with Virat Kohli during a tense but successful run-chase of 160 at a fully-packed Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), his hard-hitting half-century against England in the semifinals, or the two wickets in his final over during the 2016 T20 World Cup against Bangladesh, which saved India from an embarrassing group stage exit, Hardik has put on some valuable and fighting performances irre
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced India’s 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, which will be held in the West Indies and the United States beginning June 1.
India’s captain will be Rohit Sharma, with Hardik Pandya serving as his deputy.
India is in Group A of the tournament, alongside arch-rivals Pakistan, Ireland, and Canada, and co-hosts the United States. Their campaign begins on June 5 against Ireland at the newly constructed Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, followed by a match against Pakistan on June 9 in one of the T20 World Cup’s most anticipated games.
Squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Hardik Pandya (Vice Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj.
Squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Hardik Pandya (Vice Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj.
