Cricket fans, brace yourselves! The off-field drama for the upcoming IPL season is already heating up. Rumors are swirling online that Mumbai Indians stars Rohit Sharma & Hardik Pandya have unfollowed each other on Instagram, sparking Big controversy just weeks before the tournament begins.
This comes amidst existing tensions surrounding the captaincy change, with Pandya replacing Sharma as the MI skipper. Did this social media action fuel the fire, or is there more to the story? Let’s dive into the speculation and analyze what it could mean for the Mumbai Indians camp and the IPL season ahead.
Big controversy ! Mumbai Indians Stars Spark Big Controversy on Instagram
The Mumbai Indians (MI) are hoping to win the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2024, but even though the competition hasn’t started yet, the team has been involved in new scandal. After spending two years with the Gujarat Titans, Hardik Pandya was traded back to MI prior to the December 2024 IPL auction. The ten-year tenure of Rohit Sharma as the MI captain came to an end when the all-rounder was named captain upon his arrival.
Fans on social media have now claimed that the couple appears to have unfollowed one another on Instagram. It is possible that they unfollowed each other on social media or that they never followed each other in the first place.
The decision was recently explained by MI coach Mark Boucher, but it was met with harsh criticism, including a response from Ritika Sajdeh, Rohit’s wife. Following this event, there have been claims circulating on Instagram indicating that the two cricket players had unfollowed one another.
It’s important to remember that social media users have expressed different opinions and that the veracity of the rumours has not been verified. On Instagram, some claimed that the two had never followed one another, while others said that Hardik had ceased following Rohit, not the other way around.
The veracity of the rumors is still unknown. With GT, Hardik Pandya had an incredible tenure. He led the team to victory in their first season and a runners-up position the next.
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Even MI head coach Mark Boucher had previously given an explanation for the captaincy swap choice. “It’s just more of a cricketing decision that was made and I do think it is going to bring out the best in Rohit as a player and as a person,” he stated in an interview with SmashSports.
Let him enjoy himself and make some good runs. He has led the Mumbai Indians to great success for a very long time. He is now the leader of India as well. He enters a place where there are just cameras, and he is really busy. Although he hasn’t played well at the bat in a few seasons, he has been a successful captain.”
“I just thought you know when we’re speaking with the whole Mumbai Indians group, we thought that maybe this is the opportunity for him to step as a player. We believe he got some great value to add and just go out there and actually enjoy it without the hype of being a captain,” Boucher added.
“He is still going to captain India so that hype’s going be there but when he steps into the IPL maybe just taking that extra bit of pressure off him as a captain an maybe we get the best out of Rohit Sharma. We want to see him playing with a smile on his face, spending a bit of time with his beautiful family.”
But it wasn’t well-received by Rohit’s wife Ritika, who wrote on the comments section of the podcast, “So many things wrong with this”, and it sparked a big controversy.
FAQs:
- Did Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya really unfollow each other on Instagram?
- The rumors are widespread, but it’s currently unconfirmed. It’s possible they never followed each other or unfollowed recently.
- What started this controversy?
- Fans noticed on social media that Sharma and Pandya don’t appear on each other’s following lists, fueling speculation of a rift.
- Is there any proof of a fight between them?
- There’s no concrete evidence supporting a dispute. The unfollowing (if true) could be unrelated or a personal choice.
- Does this affect the upcoming IPL season?
- It’s too early to say. Only time will tell if this impacts team dynamics or performance.
- What have Sharma and Pandya said about the rumors?
- Neither player has commented on the speculation.
- What do experts think?
- Cricket analysts offer varying opinions. Some believe it’s much ado about nothing, while others suggest potential tension.
- Should fans be worried?
- Ultimately, it’s up to each fan to decide. Focus on enjoying the IPL and avoid fueling negativity based on unconfirmed rumors.
