Hate remains unvarying at MI's home ground! Here's why Hardik Pandya was booed again by crowds | Watch video

When Mumbai Indians fans "boeed" their own captain Hardik Pandya during the toss during Monday's crucial IPL 2024 match against Rajasthan Royals, former England captain Michael Vaughan responded with a clever jab. Some cricket fans are not happy that Pandya was named captain instead of Rohit Sharma because the flashy all-round player received criticism on social media during the team's last two games.

Hardik pandya booed again at toss pic.twitter.com/9DoTebEssk

— ʀᴏʜɪᴛ45ꜰᴄ_ⱽⁱᵛᵉᵏ🐐 (@HITMANDEVOTEE) April 1, 2024

The toss of all odds!

At the toss, Pandya was also greeted with "boos" by the home crowd at Wankhede Stadium; however, Sanjay Manjrekar begged them to behave. Sanju Samson, the captain of RR, won the toss and chose to bowl first because it was a wise move for his team. With the new ball, Trent Boult went on a rampage, taking three wickets, and Nandre Burger joined him to deal MI's fourth blow during the powerplay.

Ironic that the fans that booed the skipper at the toss now desperately need him to get them out of a big hole .. #Mumbai #Hardik

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) April 1, 2024

“Ironic that the fans that booed the skipper at the toss now desperately need him to get them out of a big hole .. #Mumbai #Hardik,” Vaughan posted on X.

Here's the reason behind booes!

The crowd's outrage over the franchise's leadership choice during the team's previous two away games in Ahmedabad and Hyderabad has already been directed towards Pandya, 29, who took Rohit's place as the Mumbai Indians' captain in the run-up to the tournament. When Pandya was making his way around the field as a warm-up before the throw, a portion of the audience jeered at him.

When the colorful all-round player's name was called for the toss, the crowd erupted in thunderous applause for former Mumbai captain Rohit, to which Pandya could only smile. After Pandya lost the toss to Sanju Samson, the captain of the Rajasthan Royals, the jeers persisted, prompting host Sanjay Manjrekar to encourage the audience to "behave."

🚨 Toss 🚨@rajasthanroyals win the toss and elect to bowl against @mipaltan #TATAIPL | #MIvRR pic.twitter.com/pziDfHNIci

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 1, 2024

MI vs RR 

Meanwhile, Boult's outstanding spell—which saw him dismiss Rohit Sharma, Naman Dhir, and Dewald Brevis for golden ducks—caused the Mumbai Indians' top order to crumble during the powerplay. Burger joined the celebration as well and defeated Ishan Kishan for 16 to further hurt MI.

MI's status 

With MI still without a point on the scoreboard, he moved on to captain Hardik to get his team out of trouble. With consecutive losses to the Gujarat Giants and Sunrisers Hyderabad, his time as MI captain got off to a horrible start. Pandya, however, promised Mumbai would keep playing cricket in a way that appeals to all.