New Delhi. Veteran spinner Ravi Ashwin has come to the defense of struggling Hardik Pandya, who has faced criticism from spectators in Ahmedabad and Hyderabad. Ashwin addressed the hostile treatment of Pandya by fans on social media and on the field, attributing it to a clash of fan culture and cinematic ambiance. Pandya, in this season, has taken on the role of captain for the Mumbai Indians, replacing Rohit Sharma.
Fan Discontent Should Stay within the Bounds of Civility
In response to a question on his YouTube channel, Ashwin remarked, “Fan discontent should stay within the bounds of civility. People should not forget that these players represent a nation, our nation. What’s the necessity of treating a cricketer poorly? It’s beyond my comprehension. If you don’t like a player and are criticizing him, what’s the need to provide clarifications to the team?”
Pandya Faced the Wrath of Fans
Pandya had to endure the wrath of fans during the match against Gujarat Titans because he had left the Gujarat team to become captain of the Mumbai team. Similarly, he had to face the same treatment at neutral venues like Hyderabad. Ashwin commented, “This is cricket and also a cinematic culture. I understand there are aspects such as marketing, positioning, and branding. I agree with all of them. But I don’t trust it, nor do I condone the negativity that comes with it.”
No Need to Justify Pandya or Mumbai Indians
Ashwin emphasized that there was no need to justify Pandya or the Mumbai Indians in this regard but urged for a rational approach towards fans regarding their behavior. He stated, “This happens in other countries too. Have you seen fans of Joe Root and Jos Buttler fighting? Have you seen fans of Steve Smith and Pat Cummins fighting?”
Legends Have Played Under Each Other’s Captaincy
Ashwin pointed out, “Sourav Ganguly played under Sachin Tendulkar’s captaincy and Sachin played under Sourav’s captaincy. Both played under Rahul Dravid’s captaincy as well, and all three played under Anil Kumble’s captaincy. They all played under MS Dhoni’s captaincy. Dhoni, too, played under Virat Kohli’s captaincy.”
For more updates follow our Whatsapp 
and Telegram Channel 
