NEW DELHI: Sanjay Manjrekar's attempt to pacify the Wankhede crowd, who were booing the newly-appointed Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya, stemmed from his belief that their discourteous behavior towards a "big stage player" was unjustified.
The jeering followed Pandya at every stadium after he took over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma, whose successful and popular tenure ended controversially.
The incident had a profound effect on Pandya.
During the toss at a home match of MI at the Wankhede, Manjrekar intervened, but his actions only sparked a meme-fest by insensitive social media trolls.
1/9:T20 World Cup: India clinch their second trophy
AFP
2/9:Keshav Maharaj
<p>Keshav Maharaj dealt an early blow to India by dismissing both skipper Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant in the second over.<br /></p>AFP
3/9:Virat Kohli and Axar Patel
<p>Virat Kohli and Axar Patel built a crucial partnership of 72 runs in 54 balls after India found themselves in a precarious position at 34-3, stabilizing the innings and providing a solid foundation for the team.<br /></p>PTI
4/9:Virat Kohli
<p>Virat Kohli’s knock of 76 runs guided India to a competitive total of 176-7. Despite his struggles earlier in the tournament, Kohli delivered his best innings at a crucial moment with well-balanced batting. This performance was vital for India, who had slipped to 34-3 after captain Rohit Sharma chose to bat first.<br /></p>PTI
5/9:Quinton de Kock
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: 0.121826px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">The Proteas also suffered an early collapse but Quinton de Kock (39) and Tristan Stubbs (31) put their chase back on track.</p>Getty Images
6/9:Heinrich Klaasen
<p>In the 15th over, Klaasen turned the game around by smashing Axar Patel for 24 runs, which included two fours and two sixes. When Klaasen was eventually caught behind off Hardik Pandya, the Proteas needed only 26 runs from the remaining 23 balls. Klaasen scored 52 runs from 27 balls.<br /></p>Reuters
7/9:Jasprit Bumrah
<p><br /><br />Jasprit Bumrah made a significant impact by curbing the run flow after an expensive over bowled by Axar Patel. Bumrah delivered a strong performance in the first half, providing India with a solid start, and managed to clutch the game in the second half, ensuring a tighter grip on the opposition.<br /><br /><br /></p>AFP
8/9:Arshdeep Singh
<p>South Africa needed 20 from the final two overs and Arshdeep Singh bowled a superb length to allow just four in the second last over of the match. He claimed 2 wickets for 20 runs in his four overs.<br /><br /><br /></p>AFP
9/9:Hardik Pandya
<p>Hardik Pandya took the crucial wicket of dangerous Henrich Klaasen to turn the tide of the match. Pandya claimed 3 wickets for 20 runs.</p>AFPHowever, Pandya's significant contribution to India's second T20 World Cup victory, with 144 runs and 11 wickets, has validated Manjrekar's stance.
“What a turnaround for Hardik Pandya. In IPL, there were people jeering him and booing him and I told them to behave because this is a big-stage player,” Manjrekar told 'ESPNCricinfo'.
Former India cricketer had unwavering faith in Hardik Pandya's ability to perform under pressure. Pandya's crucial wicket of the formidable Heinrich Klaasen turned the tide of the match in his team's favour.
“We have seen that umpteen times, wickets of Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller and right at the end, Rabada, so he was a champion and no surprise, to see him flourish on the big stage,” Manjrekar said.
Manjrekar highlighted the importance of a particular player in the Indian team. He pointed out that even during India's disappointing loss to England in Adelaide during the 2022 tournament, this vibrant cricketer from Baroda stood tall amidst the chaos.
“Even in that semifinal against England, he came in and gave India some hope with 60 off 33. So that's what he is all about.
“You felt safe when he came to bowl in the last over, he was not going to lose his nerves, he was going to bowl sensibly,” he concluded.
