Rohit Sharma-Hardik Pandya Unfollow Each Other On Instagram? Fans React
Reports circulating on social media suggest that the former captain of Mumbai Indians, Rohit Sharma, and Hardik Pandya have unfollowed each other on Instagram.
Mumbai Indians (MI) created a stir ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction by removing their longstanding captain, Rohit Sharma, from the captaincy. The franchise, which has won the IPL five times, traded in the Gujarat Titans (GT) captain Hardik Pandya and appointed him as their new skipper. Subsequently, reports surfaced suggesting a strained relationship between Sharma and Pandya. The apparent discord between the players took a fresh turn recently when the rumour emerged that both Pandya and Sharma had unfollowed each other on Instagram.
Recently, MI coach Mark Boucher provided an explanation for the decision, but it faced significant criticism, including a reaction from Rohit's wife, Ritika Sajdeh. In the aftermath of this incident, reports emerged suggesting that the two cricketers have unfollowed each other on Instagram.
Pertinent to note, the validity of the rumours remains unconfirmed, and social media users have presented various perspectives. Some asserted that the duo never followed each other on Instagram, while others claimed that it was Hardik who stopped following Rohit, not the other way around.
A Glimpse At Rumours Around Rohit And Hardik
❗️ Breaking News ❗️
— Vaibhav Bhola 🇮🇳 (@VibhuBhola) February 8, 2024
‼️ Hardik Pandya And Rohit Sharma Don’t Follow Each Other On Instagram
Or
Recently They Both Have Unfollowed Each Other ‼️ pic.twitter.com/3B2oYk2hfl
Hardik was following him. So he unfollowed him now.
— Satya Prakash (@Satya_Prakash08) February 8, 2024
Lol they both never followed in Instagram
— Aravind Rohit 💙 (@Leodass__45) February 8, 2024
Mark Boucher's Rationale For Rohit's Removal As Mumbai Indians Captain
Earlier, Boucher shed light on the decision to replace Rohit Sharma as captain, stating that the franchise aims for the star batsman to contribute more value to the team as a batter and enjoy his game.
"We still want him (Rohit) as a player because we believe he still has a great value to add, and just go out and enjoy it, without the hype of being a captain. We saw a window period to get Hardik back as a player. He is a Mumbai Indians boy as well. He's gone over to another franchise, he won his first year as captain, came runner-up in his second year. There's obviously some very good leadership skills as well.”
“In India, people get quite emotional, but you take the emotion out of it, it's just more of a cricketing decision that was made. I do think it is going to bring the best out of Rohit - as a person, as a player - and let him go out there and enjoy and score runs.” Boucher said on a Smash Sports podcast.
Rohit's wife, Ritika Sajdeh, dismissed Boucher's response, expressing her disagreement in the comments section of the SmashSports podcast saying, "So many things wrong with this."