Hardik Pandya had the worst possible start as captain of Mumbai Indians as his team squandered a straightforward shot at victory against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.
Playing in front of 90,000 spectators at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Pandya and Mumbai had the perfect chance to put recent controversies behind them with a winning start to IPL 2024. And victory looked like a mere formality when Mumbai were 126-3 after 15 overs chasing 169 – with 43 needed from 30 balls and seven wickets in hand.
Young batsmen Dewald Brevis (46) and Tilak Varma were well set but two slower ball bouncers by Mohit Sharma set the cat among the pigeons; the veteran seamer took the wicket of Brevis and then the dangerous Tim David.
Mumbai struggled for boundaries as the Titans pacers dug the ball into the wicket, making full use of the big playing surface.
The penultimate over was bowled by young Aussie quick Spencer Johnson who hit back by taking two wickets in the over despite being hit for a six by Varma.
Captain Pandya, for some reason, had pushed himself down the order to number seven - just ahead of the bowlers. With his team needing 19 from the last over, Pandya raised hopes by smashing Umesh Yadav for a six and a four off the first two balls, before falling to another short delivery as the Titans held their nerve to win by six runs.
More than the defeat, what would have hurt Mumbai and Pandya more is the hostile reception fans at the Narendra Modi Stadium gave to their local star.
Pandya hails from Gujarat and captained the Titans in the last two seasons - winning the title in his first attempt and losing the final narrowly off the final ball last year. However, ahead of the 2024 season, Mumbai made a shock move for Pandya, prying him away from his home base and naming him captain, replacing the hugely popular Rohit Sharma.
The apparent lack of discussion even among the playing group has led to a fallout within the camp. The squad is now clearly divided into camps, which was visible during and after Sunday's match.
And Pandya was at the centre of it all as fans turned on him en masse. From the moment he won the toss till he got out in the final over, Pandya was booed and jeered incessantly by the Ahmedabad crowd, with fans also chanting Rohit Sharma's name.
It got so obvious that even the commentators had to point it out. Former England captain Kevin Pietersen said on air: "I have never seen any Indian player getting booed like they are booing Hardik Pandya here in Ahmedabad. This is rare."
Fellow commentator Brian Lara suggested the only way for Pandya to win the fans over is by playing for India at the same venue, possibly pointing to a recent turn of events that saw a number of Indian players making themselves unavailable for the national team but being ready for the IPL.
Social media was flooded with videos of fans jeering every move of Pandya in Ahmedabad. And the reception is expected to turn markedly hostile when Mumbai play at the Wankhede Stadium next Monday.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000
On sale: now
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
What is Genes in Space?
Genes in Space is an annual competition first launched by the UAE Space Agency, The National and Boeing in 2015.
It challenges school pupils to design experiments to be conducted in space and it aims to encourage future talent for the UAE’s fledgling space industry. It is the first of its kind in the UAE and, as well as encouraging talent, it also aims to raise interest and awareness among the general population about space exploration.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
