As Hardik Pandya’s return to Mumbai Indians is just one official confirmation away, it seems more and more likely that Pandya will take over the MI captaincy from IPL 2024 itself, rather than wait for Rohit Sharma to retire.
Keeping the T20 World Cup 2024 in mind, which is just after the IPL 2024, Rohit Sharma is likely to play at least one more season of the IPL. However, his captaincy in white-ball cricket for the Indian team is under threat after the recent loss in the World Cup 2023 final.
With Hardik Pandya set to make a come back to Mumbai Indians, the biggest assurance for Pandya from the MI camp would have been of the captaincy. Hardik led Gujarat Titans to two consecutive IPL finals, winning one and losing one.
There had been no news of Pandya looking for a switch in franchises until the World Cup final ended. But in the past three days, the rumors turned into a reality and the star all-rounder is back to where it all began for him in the IPL – Mumbai Indians, where he spent 7 seasons winning 4 IPL titles.
However, while MI fans are happy that Hardik Pandya – a genuine pace-bowling all-rounder and proven leader – is back to their franchise, some Mumbai Indians and Rohit Sharma fans are unhappy that Pandya could take the captaincy from Rohit straightaway.
Rohit Sharma fans threaten to boycott Mumbai Indians:
The cricket world has reacted with various emotions to the news of Hardik Pandya’s return to Mumbai Indians.
RCB legend and South African AB de Villiers reckons Rohit Sharma will have already agreed to give Pandya the Mumbai captaincy.
In his YouTube video, AB de Villiers said: “I have a funny feeling Rohit is going to let him (Hardik) captain. Rohit carries a lot of pressure of captaining Team India. Maybe that is going to be the move.
“It’s a big news for Mumbai Indians. Hardik was a big player for Mumbai for many years. He loved playing at the Wankhede Stadium. He won the trophy with GT and then also went to the final (next season). Hardik probably feels his time there is done,” the South African added.
