Hardik Pandya’s reply on Shubman Gill’s Instagram story puts an end to the rumoured rift between them

Mumbai Indians (MI) are preparing for a crucial Qualifier 2 clash against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Ahmedabad on 1 June. After finishing fourth in the league stage, MI had to go through the Eliminator against third-placed Gujarat Titans (GT), where they secured a dominant win. 

However, following that match, social media was abuzz with speculation of a possible rift or ‘ego clashes’ between GT skipper Shubman Gill and MI captain Hardik Pandya. Several visuals went viral showing the two players seemingly snubbing each other. A moment at the toss where they awkwardly avoided a handshake sparked initial speculation. 

Another widely circulated clip showed Pandya celebrating animatedly at Gill’s face, which led fans to suspect tension between the two Indian stars. To shut down these growing rumours, Gill responded with a heartfelt message on his Instagram story. 

He posted photos of himself and Pandya — both in their franchise kits and in Team India jerseys — along with the caption: “Nothing but love (Don’t believe everything you see on the internet) @hardikpandya93.” The post quickly went viral, helping to put an end to the online chatter. A little while later, Pandya responded warmly with his own Instagram story, simply writing: “Always Shubhu baby.”

The social media exchange between the two helped clear the air. The fact that such rumours even started surprised many, especially considering the strong history between Gill and Pandya in the Indian team and IPL.

Gill and Pandya have shared the Indian dressing room multiple times, especially in white-ball cricket. During GT's IPL triumph in 2022 and their runners-up finish in 2023, Gill played a crucial role under Pandya’s captaincy. After Pandya’s move to MI and his appointment as captain in 2024, Gill was promoted as GT’s new skipper.

However, it was a forgettable outing for Gill in the Eliminator. His captaincy was questioned after GT's bowlers leaked 228 runs in 20 overs. He appeared short of answers as MI’s batters dominated throughout the innings. Then, while chasing a massive target, Gill was dismissed in the very first over by Trent Boult for just 1 run.

Pandya, on the other hand, had a mixed game. While he was expensive with the ball — giving away 37 runs in three wicketless overs — he redeemed himself with the bat. Coming in towards the end, Pandya smashed a quickfire, unbeaten 22 off just nine balls and led MI to a strong finish.

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