In the realm of contemporary cricket discourse, Hardik Pandya emerges as a central figure, his presence overshadowed by a pervasive atmosphere of criticism and hostility, extending even to the digital domain. His ascendancy to the leadership role of the Mumbai Indians, a five-time IPL championship team, initially heralded as a significant career milestone, has been marred by a lacklustre performance in the ongoing IPL 2024 season.
The cacophony of disapproval surrounding Pandya seems ubiquitous, permeating both physical and virtual spaces. Ravichandran Ashwin, a fellow cricketer and teammate of Pandya within the Indian cricket fraternity, recently addressed this issue. Responding to a fan’s query about Pandya’s reception by the audience, Ashwin emphasized the responsibility of the fans themselves rather than attributing blame to the management.
He lamented the prevalence of fan wars and the divisive discourse that often accompanies them, likening the spectacle to a theatrical production characterized by drama and spectacle.
“Hardik Pandya getting booed is really bad! Should MI management step in and owe an explanation to the fans? It’s really management’s poor transfer. What do you say?” A fan named Santhoshkumar M asked Ashwin.
On YouTube, He replied in Tamil: “Neither has any role to play. I think it is the responsibility and onus of the fans. In the comments section you see talks about Virat Kohli , MS Dhoni. They are Indian cricket team legends. It is very sad. This is cricket. It is a complete cinema culture. I know there is also positioning, branding, marketing. But fan wars, ugly.”
“if you don’t like a player and boo a player, why should a team come out to issue a clarification? We act like this has not happened before. Sachin played under Ganguly’s captaincy, these two have both played under Rahul Dravid. These three have played under Kumble and all of them have played under Dhoni. When they were under MS, these players were cricket giants. We need to get our act together. This is real time sport,” he concluded.
In essence, Ashwin advocated for a shift in perspective, urging Pandya to detach himself from the cacophony of external judgment and instead, draw strength from within. His words serve as a reminder of the ephemeral nature of public opinion and the resilience required to withstand its tumultuous currents.
In a landscape inundated with the noise of criticism, their counsel resonates as a beacon of solace and fortitude, guiding Pandya towards a path of self-assurance and unwavering determination.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
