IPL kicks off on a very high note after defending champion Chennai Super Kings started with a victory over the visitors Bengaluru on 22, march at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Friday.
After the first match, all eyes were on the fifth match between Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians where both sides were led by two new captains. Hardik had made his comeback in the Mumbai Indians as a skipper after 2 years of games in Gujarat. While Young Shubman Gill led the Titans for the first time with no prior experience.
Postmatch Mumbai Indians were seen congratulating Shubman and his side for the victory showing sportsmen spirit in the gentlemen’s game. In the meantime, Hardik was seen embracing his ex-skipper from the back while Rohit was in conversation with the player from Titans. Rohit turned and expressed his annoyed and disappointed gesture to Hardik regarding the match result and cruicial decisions taken by Hardik in the field during the match.
Rohits seems to be annoyed and disappointed after the loss that cost 5 times champions 2 points in the game after the Titans pulled the game from the jaws of defeat. Mumbai Indians fell 6 runs short while chasing the target of 169 runs after Gujarat posted a respectable target of 169 runs for the visitor while batting first in Narendra Modi Stadium.
Despite a good start in the run chase in the power play and Middle overs, the visitors collapsed completely in the death over’s 19 and 20 over as they lose 4 wickets in final 2 overs suffering a six-run loss with the Shubhman-led side.
Hardik Pandya who is from Gujarat had led Gujarat Titans for the past 2 years from 2022–23 making champion in the debut season 2022 has suffered huge boos from the crowd continuously during the toss and in the game time. Hardik Pandya was traded to Mumbai Indians in the trade window which produced huge controversy creating resentment for Gujarat Titans fans.
Mumbai Indians Fans also completely burst into anger and resentment on social media after Rohit Sharma was sacked from his Captaincy role for Hardik Pandya. Fans also get emotional on social media while Hardik was seen asking Rohit to field at the boundary line here and there. Rohit was seen Fielding inside 30-yard circle in the past few years.
There were many positive sides of the match where Rohit Sharma was cheered by the crowd for every boundary and every run despite being in Mumbai side. Rohit was also seen guiding Hardik in the field setting and bowing looking to make win possible for Mumbai Indians.