'Hardik Pandya has achieved a lot' - MI coach orders fans to worship Rohit Sharma's successor

Mumbai Indians' (MI) head coach, Mahela Jayawardene, showered praise on captain Hardik Pandya for making a remarkable comeback after a tough IPL 2024 season. The Sri Lanka legend urged fans to continue supporting the MI skipper ahead of the upcoming IPL 2025 match against Gujarat Titans (GT).

Hardik Pandya is set to make his return to Mumbai Indians' playing XI after missing the previous game against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Pandya was unavailable due to a slow over-rate ban carried over from the previous season. He will be available for the match against Gujarat Titans on Saturday, March 29.

It Is Amazing to See How Loyalty Works - Mahela Jayawardene

Mahela Jayawardene said that cricket is an emotional game and everyone seems to have moved on from last season’s issues. Jayawardene emphasized that it’s impressive to witness the loyalty in the IPL.

"I think it is just a game of cricket. Fans are fans, and emotions are a part of the game. It is true that everyone has moved beyond that, but it is amazing to see how loyalty works, even in IPL, which is fascinating to see,” said the Sri Lankan great in his press conference ahead of GT vs MI.

Hardik Pandya Faced Boos from Fans in IPL 2024

Hardik Pandya returned to Mumbai Indians after a successful stint with the Titans, becoming one of the most talked-about players of IPL 2024. Pandya took over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma, but his appointment was met with boos from fans. The hostility started at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Pandya experienced a similar reception at Wankhede Stadium. His performance, both as a player and captain, was underwhelming in IPL 2024. The right-handed batter scored 216 runs from 14 matches and took 11 wickets at an average of 35.18. Mumbai Indians finished last in the IPL 2024 points table.

Twelve Months On, He's Achieved a Lot More - Mahela Jayawardene

Hardik Pandya made crucial contributions to India's recent triumphs, including victories in the T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy. He bowled a match-winning final over against South Africa last year. Jayawardene hoped that fans would move beyond the previous season and focus on the present.

“Twelve months on, he's achieved a lot more, and I hope that people will see beyond what happened last year. I hope that we can enjoy a good game of cricket," said Jayawardene.

Mumbai Indians are heading into their next match after a disappointing loss to Chennai Super Kings in their opener. The team struggled in both the batting and bowling departments.

Suryakumar Yadav captained MI in their previous match, but Hardik Pandya will take over the leadership role.

Jacks, who managed just 11 runs from seven balls in MI's opener against CSK, had an impressive performance last year for Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he scored an unbeaten 100 off 41 balls in a dominant nine-wicket victory against Gujarat Titans at the same venue.

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