Are Indians right to boo Hardik Pandya, a star cricketer?

The practice of booing is as old as sport itself. During gladiatorial contests in ancient Rome, spectators expressed displeasure at athletes by giving them the bird. The consequences could be deadly. The recipient of their derision, usually the vanquished fighter, was sometimes sentenced to death. These days the consequences are rarely fatal, but the tradition flourishes with no less zest. Yet for such a deep-rooted and widespread habit, booing remains a charged issue for sports fans and society.

Consider the case of Hardik Pandya, an Indian cricket star. During this season’s Indian Premier League, the world’s most lucrative domestic cricket tournament, which began last month, Mr Pandya has been hit by a torrent of abuse at visiting grounds, and even at his home one. The harassment has prompted much hand-wringing from Mr Pandya’s colleagues, ex-players and pundits, who have urged fans to rein it in.