Updated: October 27, 2020 5:32:03 pm
Hardik Pandya knelt in support of the Black Lives Matter Movement. on Sunday. (BCCI / IPL)
What did Hardik Pandya do?
Hardik Pandya became the first IPL player to kneel in solidarity with Black Lives Matter, the worldwide movement against racism.
As he reached his half century in the 19th against the Rajasthan Royals on Sunday, Pandya leaned on his right knee and raised his right gloved hand in a clenched fist salute.
A smiling Pandya looked at his dugout where Keiron Pollard, the deputy captain of the Mumbai Indians, raised his fist in recognition.
Has there been an official IPL stance so far?
No, unlike the two-way series between the West Indies and England where all the players lined up prior to the start of Trials to kneel, this has not been talked about at the IPL.
Have any other IPL players talked about BLM?
Jason Holder, the West Indies Test captain who plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad, had expressed disappointment at the lack of support for the movement in the IPL.
“I haven’t had a single conversation here (at IPL) about it (BLM). Sometimes it seems like it has gone unnoticed, which is a sad thing. I guess it’s for us to re-emphasize the importance of this, so that people understand what is happening in the world, ”Holder had told the Cricket Writers Club.
Have all the cricket teams got down on their knees in every bilateral series thus far after George Floyd’s death in America?
No, only in the series (male and female) between West Indies and England. The players did not do so in the Australia-England series or during the Pakistan-England series.
“Personally, I was a bit disappointed to see how the Pakistani and Australian tours followed after us and they don’t show solidarity,” Holder had said. West Indies legend Michael holding had also expressed disappointment about it and Justin Langer, Australia’s coach, had acknowledged that his team should have “thought and talked a little more about it.”
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