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In the ever-evolving world of social media, where information spreads like wildfire, fact-checking has become an essential part of responsible content consumption. Recently, a video surfaced on the internet that claimed Hardik Pandya was being teased with Rohit Sharma chants at an airport. The alleged incident occurred in the backdrop of Pandya replacing Rohit as the captain of the Mumbai Indians (MI) franchise for the upcoming IPL 2024.
Controversial captaincy shift
The Mumbai Indians franchise stirred up controversy when they opted to replace their longstanding captain, Rohit, with the dynamic all-rounder Hardik for the IPL 2024 season. The decision came as Pandya was traded back to the franchise in exchange for Cameron Green before the auction process.
Pandya’s return to the team was initially met with celebrations until the unexpected twist of his being named the new captain, leading to a wave of fan dissatisfaction and criticism.
The management’s decision to change the leadership role did not sit well with the fans, who openly expressed their disagreement with the removal of Rohit from the captaincy as he had been a pivotal figure in the team’s success, leading them to five IPL titles and establishing himself as one of the most successful captains in the league.
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The viral video: Fans tease Hardik Pandya with ‘Mumbai cha raja Rohit Sharma’ chants
Amidst this, a video began circulating on social media, purportedly capturing fans taunting Hardik with ‘Rohit Sharma’ chants at an airport. The audio in the background allegedly featured fans shouting, “Mumbai Cha Raja, Rohit Sharma” (Rohit Sharma is Mumbai’s king). The narrative spun around this video was that fans were expressing their displeasure over the decision to replace Rohit as MI’s captain.
People are shouting 'Mumbai Cha Raja Rohit Sharma' infront of Hardik Pandya.
Rohit Sharma is an emotion of India.🐐
SHAMELESS MUMBAI INDIANS pic.twitter.com/qp5P8O30VF
— 𝐇𝐲𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐧 𝕏 (@ImHydro45) December 21, 2023
Fact Check: Did fans really tease Hardik with Rohit Sharma slogans?
Upon conducting a thorough fact check, it has been revealed that the viral video is misleading and, more importantly, false. The video in question dates back to 2020, and its original context had nothing to do with the recent captaincy controversy. The footage was taken by paparazzi, and no slogans targeting Hardik were present in the authentic clip.
Furthermore, it has been discovered that the audio featuring the chants was also from the same year but during a match and from a stadium. This audio was intentionally added to the background of Pandya’s video to create a false narrative. The deceptive editing aimed to fuel the controversy surrounding the Mumbai Indians’ decision to replace Rohit as captain.
