IPL 2024: Sourav Ganguly Feels 'It's Not Correct' For Crowd To Boo Hardik Pandya For No Fault of His Own

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Former India captain Sourav Ganguly feels that "it's not correct" for the crowd to boo at Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya, saying it is not the fault of the player if he has replaced much-loved Rohit Sharma.

The 30-year-old, who led Gujarat Titans to a title and runner up finish in his first stint as skipper in IPL, was traded in by Mumbai Indians in a cash-only deal ahead of the IPL 2024 auction with Cameron Green heading to Royal Challengers Bengaluru to balance the finances.

Pandya has been at the receiving end of the fans' anger ever since Mumbai Indians announced that he will replace the five-time IPL title winning skipper Rohit. The fans first showed their anger on social media plaftorms then it moved into the stadiums as well.

The star Indian all-rounder was booed in his first game as skipper of Mumbai Indians when he returned to the home ground of his previous franchise Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.

The trend continued when Pandya and MI travelled to Hyderabad to face the Sunrisers Hyderabad and much to the surprise of many, the all-rounder was booed when Mumbai Indians played their first home match of the season against Rajasthan Royals earlier in the week.

Ganguly, the Director of Cricket at Delhi Capitals, was unhappy with the fans' reaction as he believes it's the franchises call on who should lead the team and it's not the players own fault.

"I don't think they should boo Hardik Pandya. It's not correct. It's not correct. The franchisee has appointed him as captain," Ganguly told the media in Mumbai during Delhi Capitals' training session at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday (April 6).

"That's what happens in sport. Whether you captain India or you captain a state or whether you captain your franchise, you are appointed as captain. He's (been) appointed captain."

Ganguly, however, acknowledged Rohit is different class whether as player or captain for the franchise or the Indian cricket team, but felt it's not Pandya's fault that he's been named captain of MI.

"Obviously, with Rohit Sharma he's a different class. His performance for this franchise, his performance for India has been at a different level as captain and as a player," the Director of Cricket for Delhi Capitals said.

"But then it's not Hardik's fault that he's been appointed as captain. All of us need to understand that," he added on the eve of Mumbai Indians' next match against Delhi Capitals on Sunday (April 7) afternoon in Mumbai.

Most of the fans rage is coming from the fact that Rohit is the current Indian captain and has many more seasons left in him. Many feel Mumbai Indians, who could have handled the situation better, could have waited for another season before changing the captain.

(With PTI inputs)