Watch: Hardik Pandya Walks Away As Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah Continue Discussion. Internet Reacts
After any loss, it's a tough time for any team. The same is the case with Mumbai Indians, who began their journey under new skipper Hardik Pandya on a losing note. The five-time champions went down to Gujarat Titans on Sunday, which was Pandya's former franchise. Since the time he was made skipper in place of Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya has been under intense scrutiny. He himself must have felt the eyeballs following him a little bit more than in earlier years.
After Mumbai Indians' loss to Gujarat Titans, the internet has been on overdrive. A video has gone viral on social media, which shows Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah discussing something. After Pandya walks away, Rohit and Bumrah continue chatting. This has led to intense speculation.
When you bring in a Chapri as Captain,having leaders like Rohit & Bumrah in squad,it's bound to happen! Look at his attitude, Am Captain, you do as I say! Bumrah to Rohit be like, he's not even listening, what to do? Rohit jst nods, jst do what he wants! #MIVsGT #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/wTTQqeQ1bc
Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians' batting coach Kieron Pollard backed Hardik Pandya's move to open the bowling instead of Jasprit Bumrah and also said the skipper batting at number seven in their IPL opener against Gujarat Titans was a "collective decision".
An inexplicable batting strategy saw MI lose their opener by six runs here on Sunday after they looked on course for victory.
Mumbai Indians won the toss and opted to bowl first and surprisingly, Hardik opened the bowling against his former side.
"You have to plan and decide what you want to do as a team. Hardik (Pandya) has also bowled with the new ball for Gujarat over the last couple of years. He swung the new ball