AB de Villiers has a message for Mumbai Indians fans after Hardik Pandya’s performance

Hardik Pandya has now earned the tag of the leading all rounder in the T-20 format of the game as per the latest ICC rankings. His crucial contribution with the bat and the ball played a role in India lifting the trophy. South African batsman AB de Villiers who had defended Hardik Pandya when he was being booed by the Mumbai Indians fans took a moment to reflect on this development. "What stands out for me are the big moments. A guy like Hardik Pandya who's been through a roller-coaster himself with Mumbai Indians – moving from Gujarat to Mumbai – and all the criticism he coped with, getting the ball from the captain in the final of the T20 World Cup. That was his moment to go like, 'You know what… all Indian fans out there, this is what I am about as a cricket player’," AB de Villiers said on his YouTube channel. 

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Mumbai Indians fans were upset over Hardik Pandya taking over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma. Pandya had to face booing in stadiums during IPL 2024. AB de Villers called out the fans over their behaviour. “He made everyone proud out there. Even though I did not want him to succeed like that, I look back and have a lot of respect for that. He is a big man for a big moment and that's exactly the way he played. To all you Mumbai Indians fans out there who doubted him, I'm pretty sure he has secured a spot in your hearts for the future,” AB De Villiers added.