IPL 2024: Crowd chants 'Hardik, Hardik' as dog enters ground; video goes viral

In the recent clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the encounter between Hardik Pandya's Mumbai Indians and Shubman Gill's Gujarat Titans sparked a frenzy among fans. 

The spotlight unquestionably shone on Hardik Pandya, who found himself in an unusual position this season, transitioning from leading the Titans to joining Mumbai's ranks. Another unusual moment unfolded when the massive crowd began chanting "Hardik, Hardik" as a dog unexpectedly entered the ground.

Amidst the fervour, Gujarat Titans showcased exceptional death bowling, securing a narrow six-run victory over the Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2024 opener. Despite valiant efforts from Rohit Sharma and Dewald Brevis, Mumbai fell short, posting 162/9 while chasing a target of 169. This victory marks Shubman Gill's debut win as captain in the IPL, adding to the significance of the match. 

Also Read: IPL 2024: Brian Lara's dig at Hardik Pandya leaves Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bishop in splits

Hardik Pandya, the Mumbai Indians captain, expressed disappointment at falling short in the chase, attributing it to a loss of momentum in the middle overs. He highlighted the vibrant atmosphere of the stadium and stated that there are still 13 games left in the season to make a comeback.

"Obviously we backed ourselves to chase those 42 runs but it was one of those days when we see the score quite less compared to what it could have been in five overs, I think we lost little bit of momentum there. It feels good to be back because this is one stadium where you can enjoy and feel the atmosphere quite lively and obviously the crowd was full and they got a good game as well. (On Tilak not taking the single vs Rashid) I think Tilak felt that that was a better idea at that point of time, I completely back him, not an issue, 13 games to go," Hardik said as quoted by Cricbuzz.