'You should be happy': AB de Villers shocked with negative reactions on Hardik Pandya's MI return

Hardik Pandya has been selected captain of the Mumbai Indians for the upcoming Indian Premier League. In an all-cash deal, MI acquired Hardik Pandya from the Gujarat Titans. However, the supporters' reaction to the Hardik trade and the ensuing captaincy selection has not been kind.

The Mumbai Indians lost 400,000 followers on Twitter within an hour of the announcement, and many fans voiced their disapproval. Former cricket player AB de Villiers expressed his disbelief at the news and remarked that Pandya's comeback to the team should cheer supporters on.

AB de Villiers said, "I think I find it quite strange that the reaction was pretty negative. I have been reading posts that said Mumbai Indians social platform lost like 1 million followers and people are upset."

Hardik Pandya's impressive performance with Gujarat Titans

After leaving the Mumbai Indians, Pandya joined the Gujarat Titans, where he performed incredibly well. In the 2022 Indian Premier League final, which saw Gujarat Titans defeat Rajasthan Royals, Pandya was awarded player of the match. Pandya guided his team to the 2023 season final, but they were defeated in a thrilling final-ball match by MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings.

Supporters should back Pandya: AB de Villiers

De Villiers advocated for the supporters to encourage Hardik rather than criticize him.

"You should be happy about him coming back. I know he played two IPL seasons at the Gujarat Titans and won a trophy. They made the final in another. And now he wants to come back as a more experienced player, a more experienced captain. So I think fans should give him a bit of a boost and welcome him back in the Mumbai Indians camp."