Fans booed Hardik Pandya across venues after he took over the Mumbai Indians captaincy in the IPL 2024. The unceremonious and abrupt sacking of Rohit Sharma had left the fans unimpressed and they had vented their anger on Hardik Pandya and the Mumbai Indians management. In the T20 World Cup 2024 against South Africa, Hardik Pandya picked the wickets of Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller and Kagiso Rabada after South Africa needed just 30 runs off 30 balls. Manjrekar hailed Hardik for holding his nerves again in the big stage. "What a turnaround for Hardik Pandya. During the IPL, there were people who were jeering him. I told them to behave because this a big-stage player. We have seen that umpteen times. Wickets of Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller and right at the end, Rabada. So he was champion and no surprise to see him flourish on the big stage," Sanjay Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo. "Even in that semi-final against England in the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final in Adelaide, he came in and gave India some hope with 60 off 33. That's what he is all about. You felt safe when he came in and bowled the last over. He was not going to lose his nerves and he was going to bowl sensibly," he added. Hardik Pandya was in tears after bowling the 20th over in which he defended 16 to help India win by seven runs. In his first reaction after the win, the 30-year-old talked about being booed and trolled by people who don't even know him. He appealed to the fans to be more graceful in future. "I believe in grace. A lot was said by people who don't know even know me one percent as a person. People have spoken, no issues but I have always believed in life that you never respond with words, circumstances can respond. Even difficult times, they don't last forever. It is important to be graceful, whether you win or lose," Hardik Pandya said. "It is time for fans and everyone else to learn that (to be graceful). We need to find better ways to conduct yourself. I am sure the same people will be happy," he added. Hardik Pandya picked 11 wickets and scored 144 runs at an average of 48 and a strike rate of 151.57.