Try GOLD - Free
India hero Pandya hopes to win over MI fans as skipper
Hindustan Times Noida
|March 20, 2025
The all-rounder's stocks are high after coming through in key moments in 2024 T20 WC and CT triumphs
MUMBAI: Leading an IPL side is challenging enough, but Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya has plenty more on his plate. He must guard the five-time champions against another poor start, get the seniors to fully commit to his leadership and earn the respect of talisman Jasprit Bumrah. He must also find the best combination after the mega auction, and win over MI fans who last season booed him for replacing the popular Rohit Sharma as skipper.
The 2024 IPL proved to be the toughest for the all-rounder. Hardik faced the ire of the fans at every MI game. He looked rattled by the series of defeats as MI became the first team to be eliminated, eventually finishing at the bottom of the 10-team table.
As MI begin a new campaign looking to end their recent barren run, winning over the Wankhede faithful will be crucial to his team's chances.
However, there are many reasons for Hardik to be positive going into the season. He has been a hero in India colours since the 2024 IPL ended. He first helped India turn things around from a tough situation in the T20 World Cup final against South Africa in Barbados. When Hardik and Bumrah came on to bowl, the match looked lost — SA needed 30 runs off 30 balls with six wickets in hand.
This story is from the March 20, 2025 edition of Hindustan Times Noida.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM Hindustan Times Noida
Hindustan Times Noida
PAAJI TOLD ME 'I'M PREPARING YOU TO WIN GAMES FOR INDIA': ABHISHEK
The cricketer shares how Yuvraj Singh's mentorship helped him evolve into a match-winner on the big stage
1 min
October 04, 2025
Hindustan Times Noida
HC dismisses Anil Ambani’s plea over SBI account classification
The Bombay High Court on Friday dismissed a petition filed by industrialist Anil Ambani challenging the State Bank of India’s (SBI) decision classifying his and Reliance Communications’ accounts as fraud.
1 min
October 04, 2025
Hindustan Times Noida
Recycled C&D waste finds few takers among agencies
Amid Delhi's plans to set up more plants to process construction and demolition (C&D) waste, there have been few takers for recycled products, such as interlocking tiles, paver blocks, chequered tiles, kerb stones, and concrete bricks.
2 mins
October 04, 2025
Hindustan Times Noida
Heading out for mehndi? Here's where Delhi goes
At 18, Vanshika Gupta could be any other first-year student at Delhi University.
1 min
October 04, 2025
Hindustan Times Noida
Kendall Jenner elevates the naked dressing game at Paris Fashion Week
The naked dressing trend is far from over.
1 min
October 04, 2025
Hindustan Times Noida
Nirav will only face trial, no quizzing: India to UK
Weeks after a UK court accepted a plea from Nirav Modi seeking to reopen his extradition proceedings, India has sent a letter of assurance to London, a sovereign guarantee of sorts, stating that the fugitive diamantaire, in the event of extradition, “will only face trial” here and “won't be interrogated or taken into custody by any agency”, officials familiar with the matter said.
2 mins
October 04, 2025
Hindustan Times Noida
US President’s Gaza plan ‘not ours’: Pak
The 20 points that US President Donald Trump announced this week under his plan to end the war in Gaza were not in line with a draft presented to him by a group of Muslim-majority countries, Pakistani foreign minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday.
1 min
October 04, 2025
Hindustan Times Noida
One killed as truck overturns in Rohini
One person was Killed and 14 others injured, including one in critical condition, after a truck allegedly carrying about 40 people overturned in Shahbad Dairy on Friday afternoon. The group was returning from Durga idol immersion in Khera when the accident occurred, police said.
1 min
October 04, 2025
Hindustan Times Noida
WANGCHUK'S WIFE MOVES TOP COURT AGAINST HIS DETENTION
Gitanjali Angmo, wife of Ladakhi education reformer and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, has approached the Supreme Court to challenge his detention under the National Security Act (NSA).
1 min
October 04, 2025
Hindustan Times Noida
Govt probes alleged dumping of steel from China, others
India has initiated a probe into an alleged dumping of certain steel items from China, Indonesia and Vietnam following a complaint by domestic players. The Commerce Ministry's arm, Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), has initiated the anti-dumping probe into the import of “Cold rolled flat products of 300 and 400 series” from these three countries.
1 min
October 04, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size