TOLD MUMBAI CROWD TO 'BEHAVE' BECAUSE HARDIK PANDYA IS A BIG MATCH PLAYER: MANJREKAR
Former India cricketer turned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar recalled asking the crowd at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai to stop booing Hardik Pandya during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 after his match-winning performance in the T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa.
Notably, the all-rounder successfully defended 15 runs in the final over to help India end their 11-year-long ICC trophy drought and clinch their second T20 World Cup trophy. It was a remarkable turnaround for the 30-year-old who was subjected to the wrath of Mumbai (MI) fans who didn't accept him as the captain of their franchise.
IND vs SA, T20 World Cup Highlights|Scorecard
Pandya replaced Rohit as the skipper of Mumbai who led them to a record-levelling five IPL titles. The succession didn't go down well with the franchise's fans who booed him during all the home matches. The wild behaviour also prompted Manjrekar to ask them to behave during the team's first home against Rajasthan.
Recalling the incident, Manjrekar said that he asked the crowd to behave as he knew that he was a big match player.
"What a turnaround for Hardik Pandya. In IPL, there were people jeering him and booing him and I told them to behave because this is a big-stage player," Manjrekar told 'ESPNCricinfo.
Further speaking ahead, Manjrekar said it was no surprise to see him flourish at the big stage as he had full belief that Pandya will not lose his nerves at the big stage.
Felt safe when he came to bowl in the last over: Manjrekar
"We have seen that umpteen times, wickets of Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller and right at the end, Rabada, so he was a champion and no surprise, to see him flourish on the big stage. Even in that semifinal against England, he came in and gave India some hope with 60 off 33. So that's what he is all about. You felt safe when he came to bowl in the last over, he was not going to lose his nerves, he was going to bowl sensibly," he concluded.
Notably, Pandya brought his all-round skills to the fore in the World Cup by picking 11 wickets from eight innings and scoring 144 runs from six innings. His best batting performance came against Bangladesh when he scored an unbeaten 50* (27) in India's second Super 8 fixture.
However, the right-arm seamer saved his best performance with the ball for the final picking 3/20 in three overs to seal the game for his side.
2024-06-30T13:34:37Z dg43tfdfdgfd