Virat Kohli Asked the Fans Not to Boo Hardik Pandya: Reminds Them He Plays for India

Captain Kohli's Sportsmanship: Uniting Fans Behind Team India's Pride

Written by: Supriya Kadu

Edited by: Omkar Devadkar

Last Updated: 2024-04-12 08:40:49

Summary: Virat Kohli came out in support of Hardik Pandya and urged the crowd to applaud the Mumbai Indians Skipper, reminding them he plays for India.

In an attempt to bring back the spirit of cricket for the Indian Premier League in 2024, Virat Kohli supported Hardik Pandya and asked Mumbai Indians supporters to stop mocking their team's captain on Thursday. In the middle of the legendary Wankhede Stadium during a match between RCB and MI, Kohli made a move to ensure that Pandya did not face a nasty round of mockery.

And this event made us go back to times when Kohli showed support to players from other countries as well as to his fellow Indians, emphasizing his dedication to promoting respect and unity in the cricket community.

During the 2019 World Cup at the oval, Virat Kohli urged the fans not to boo Steve Smith, who made his comeback in cricket after a year-long ban for a ball-tampering incident. He also put aside his differences with the Afghanistan player Navin-ul-Haq during the 2023 World Cup, asking fans not to boo him.

Ever since Pandya took over as the Mumbai Indians' captain in place of Rohit Sharma, the all-round player has been the target of hatred from MI fans. Before the new season began, Hardik sealed his amazing all-cash trade from the Gujarat Titans to Mumbai.

Pandya received a harsh response from fans in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad. When a section of the crowd targeted Hardik at Wankhede, King Kohli reminded the fans that Mumbai's skipper represents Team India on the international stage.

Virat’s gesture had a huge impact on the crowd and quickly changed the mood in the Wankhede Stadium. Immediately, the chant “Hardik Hardik” was heard in the stadium. Kohli's wonderful gesture to quiet the crowd was an instant hit with the fans. Fans and observers of the game also praised Kohli's sportsmanship on social media. Pandya finished the IPL match in style at a crowded Wankhede Stadium, hitting a six to help Mumbai win.