How Rohit Sharma Made a Fan's Day Ahead of RCB Clash at Wankhede: WATCH

The affection and support for Rohit Sharma have doubled up in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Wherever he goes, the former captain receives endless love from the Mumbai Indians supporters. As the team gears up for its next home fixture against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Thursday, the iconic Wankhede Stadium will be decked up once again with the crazy MI fans.

RR vs GT Live Score

Ahead of the face-off, Rohit made a fan’s day by obliging for a selfie at the stands of the Wankhede Stadium. The former skipper was on his way to the dressing after wrapping hum his training. As the fans asked for a picture, Rohit stopped by and posed for the camera.

Mumbai Back at Wankhede

As MI return to Wankhede, it will be interesting to see how the audience treats skipper Hardik Pandya who has been facing flak from the fans since the beginning of the season.

Even though he has struck at 138.46 to get 108 runs in four matches so far while batting at different slots, his failure to go ballistic in the middle, as well as lower order, has been noticeable this season. In the first game against his former side Gujarat Titans, Pandya succumbed to pressure after a four-ball 11 in a tricky chase whereas in the next, the MI skipper could only manage a 20-ball 24 at No 5 against Sunrisers Hyderabad while chasing a monumental 278.

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Pandya did a commendable job on a tough pitch against Rajasthan Royals to top-score with a 21-ball 34 in a low-scoring game, but his 33-ball 39 (3x4s, 1x6s) was in stark contrast to the other MI batters who went hammer and tongs to help the team record its highest total of 234/5 at home in the last match.

All-rounder Tim David on Wednesday defended skipper Pandya’s scoring rate in the ongoing IPL, saying he has been the ‘glue’ which is holding the batting together.

“We have had conversations about how we have played. Hardik has been playing a really important job for our team,” David told the reporters on Wednesday.

“Look at the last match (vs Delhi Capitals), we struggled really hard for momentum towards the back end (against Delhi Capitals). Hardik played a perfect innings that set the platform for myself and Romario (Shepherd) to go on with at the end.

“We got ourselves to a platform and he got that one ball that he could have hit for six. He hit it high on the bat and missed the middle and he is out (and) that is how the game goes,” he added.

(With PTI Inputs)