NEW DELHI: Mumbai Indians‘ captain Hardik Pandya experienced a welcome change as he did not encounter any crowd hostility at the Wankhede Stadium during their IPL clash against Delhi Capitals on Sunday.
The stands, predominantly occupied by around 18,000 children from various NGOs, resonated with cheers for the home team as the match coincided with the ESA (Education and Sports for All) day organized by the Reliance Foundation.
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Pandya had previously faced booing and criticism from fans during the first three matches, played at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, and the Wankhede Stadium itself.

The 29-year-old all-rounder became the subject of fan ire both inside the stadiums and on social media platforms after his transition from the Gujarat Titans to rejoining Mumbai Indians as their captain, replacing Rohit Sharma.
Despite the plea for civility, Pandya faced continuous jeers during Mumbai Indians’ first home game against Rajasthan Royals on April 1. Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar, who was conducting the toss, urged the fans to ‘behave’ amidst the unsettling atmosphere.
(With inputs from PTI)