Jasprit Bumrah Supports Hardik Pandya Amid Criticism

Hardik Pandya faced significant booing from fans during the early stages of IPL 2024 following his appointment as captain of the Mumbai Indians, replacing Rohit Sharma. His teammate Jasprit Bumrah expressed that the team stood firmly behind Pandya during this challenging period, emphasizing that such negative reactions from fans are beyond their control. Bumrah stated, "We, as a team, don’t encourage that, we don’t promote that. We don’t think that’s warranted," while also acknowledging the emotional nature of fans in India. The narrative around Pandya shifted dramatically after India won the T20 World Cup 2024, where he played a crucial role, including a standout performance in the final. Bumrah noted that this victory not only changed perceptions but also highlighted the team's unity and support for their captain. Pandya's successful campaign included scoring 144 runs and taking 11 wickets, leading to a complete turnaround in fan sentiment.