Crossing lines: How player cults have taken hooliganism to ugly new levels

This article originally appeared in The Field’s newsletter, Game Points, on April 3, 2024. Sign up here to get the newsletter directly delivered to your inbox every week.

Sanjay Manjrekar, a former cricketer-turned-commentator, began the Indian Premier League pre-match proceedings at the Wankhede Stadium, in Mumbai, on Monday with a plea.

“Behave,” he called on his microphone, as a cacophony of boos and jeers erupted when Manjrekar introduced the Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya. This was the third time a harsh reception was being meted out to Pandya this season. And all because he harbours that basic element, a requirement for any sportsperson: ambition.

Pandya, who led the Gujarat Titans to the IPL title in their inaugural season in 2022, followed it up with a runner-up finish last year. This year, he returned to the Mumbai franchise where he had first made a name for himself in 2015. He made his way back as the team’s captain, replacing the popular Rohit Sharma – the head of the India team.

This did not go down well with sections of the squad, it was rumoured. The fans weren’t thrilled either. Abuse greets Pandya every time he makes an appearance on the stadium screen. So do casteist slurs.

If the hostile reception for Pandya has gotten out...

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