It’s absurd to abuse Hardik Pandya for being Mumbai Indians captain and diabolical to call him names

The most vicious targeting of a player in history during this IPL season. This time, it’s gone far beyond the typical online trolling.

Hardik Pandya, following his switch from Gujarat Titans to Mumbai Indians, got hysterically booed all through his team’s first outing in Ahmedabad, his home venue for the previous two seasons. The anger was apparently because of Gujarat’s sense of betrayal. The accusation was mounted on weak legs. It quickly fell flat.

The next game was played in Hyderabad and the jeers from the stands continued to resound. Visuals also emerged of a shower of shoes hitting a giant screen on which a smiling Hardik spoke after MI’s second successive loss. This Monday, MI play their very first home game of the season. There are also those who think the Wankhede faithfulists, aka supporters of former captain Rohit Sharma, may not immediately warm up to the new captain.

Interestingly, Hardik was spared the usual harmless theatrical hooting and shouting heard at sporting venues worldwide during the first two games. Social media posts of match-day stadium clips featuring the new Mumbai captain often include chants of ‘Chhapri’, a casteist term used to label those with unusual hairstyles as unkempt and uncultured. It is also a derogatory discrimination of the marginalised.

The diligent boy from the other side of the track, who reached lofty heights without push or pull, was being collectively pulled down by those who once applauded him. This wasn’t cricket, it went beyond the Rohit-Hardik transition drama. The fans have booed numerous individuals, but this time they were selectively vile in their slurs against Hardik.

So, what had Hardik done to deserve this? It wasn’t that he had managed some overnight bloodless coup to overthrow Rohit. Nor did he manipulate the dressing room to stake his claim on the Mumbai throne.

Prima facie, it’s just about him agreeing to a massive pay hike, a move back to the team that spotted him, and lead IPL’s most prominent franchise. The young of the nation should reassess their ambitions if it was appropriate to publicly shame someone for having aspirational goals and striving for higher professional positions.

Fans forget that Hardik has been India skipper and also won an IPL title in his debut season as captain. MI then called and said they believed in him. Saying no would have been timid. Players of Hardik’s calibre look for tough assignments to test themselves. He took the challenge and also knew it wouldn’t be easy. Never has been.

Tough childhood
Hardik would never leave the mother’s side as a child, especially when the family had limited resources and would occasionally dine out at a local dhaba. On Gaurav Kapoor’s YouTube show Breakfast with Champions, Hardik had relived his childhood trauma. Generally, he would keep it light, frame it as a joke. “I had cut my hair very short. I never used to visit dhabas with my mother as people used to think I was a waiter there. It’s happened numerous times. He recalled that each time he went to wash his hands someone would ask him to choose their plates.

At that point in Hardik’s life, his father had relocated to another city, worked odd jobs and persuaded coaches to give his timid and slender son an opportunity to showcase his talents. With elder brother Krunal by his side, while surviving on just a Maggi meal all day at times, the two honed their skills under the unforgiving Baroda sun.

Success would follow them, they would become Baroda’s famous Pandya Brothers. They played a significant role in MI securing IPL titles. The pet of the mother, the shy boy, would gain confidence over time. He would play Tests, and be compared to Kapil Dev.

On a high, he wasn’t bothered when the world judged him for his fashion taste. It seems that hasn’t changed. He didn’t snap in the first two games of this season despite the outside noise. He’s conducted himself with a smile. Even that has angered some fans. They inquire as to how he can smile when the team is falling behind.

Hardik will have a tough act to emulate. While being MI captain comes with perks and privileges, being Rohit’s successor now comes with challenges and inconveniences. Rohit is considered an under-used asset on the field by fans even though he is probably at his most popular moment as India captain without an arm-band on.

Five IPL titles, charming the nation by leading from the front in a World Cup at home last year, shepherding a young Test team to a hard-fought Test series win against England – Rohit’s body of work is intimidating. His all-format credentials are impossible to match for anyone in Indian cricket at present; least of all Hardik, a captain still learning the ropes.

Unavailable for India
There are also other worries. Hardik no longer participates in Tests and his nagging injuries prevented him from being India’s Man Friday at the 50-over World Cup. Currently, his stock isn’t zooming.

And that is the reason there will always be that one huge question that will continue to hang over the field each time MI play this season: Is the most deserving man leading the side? He is not – and if MI’s defeats continue to pile up, this could escalate into a loud stadium shout.

Sporting transfer sagas that divide opinions can turn ugly. The Portuguese legend made a seismic shift from Barcelona to fierce rivals Real Madrid in The recent Netflix documentary the Figo Affair, which was well received. All hell broke loose then. Figo was called names, his plight was worse than Hardik’s. During an El Clasico at Nou Camp, a pig head was thrown at him. This was in 2000, football leagues would mature with time. Despite larger transfers, those who disagree have not killed a pig.

IPL is still very young. The fans still take transfers as a personal rejection. Those following the national team don’t understand fickle contractual loyalties. With time, they too will be far more understanding. They will realise that expressing displeasure over the choice of a captain is normal but making it personal isn’t.

So before abusing Hardik, try to understand that he can’t be faulted for being MI captain. He has a record of severe injuries. He is focusing on maximising the commercialisation of specific skill sets in what could be a brief sporting career. Can he be castigated for securing a comfortable future for himself? Hardik got an offer that every cricketer in the world dreams of. His sole fault, he grabbed it with both hands.