Five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians lost 400,000 followers on Twitter within an hour of announcing Hardik Pandya as the new captain for the 2024 Indian Premier League season. The Indian all-rounder took over the baton from the legendary Rohit Sharma on December 15 and was named the new captain of the team.
Mumbai Indians acquired Rohit Sharma in the 2011 IPL pre-season auction and he remains in the team till date. He captained the team from his 2013 to his 2023 and led the team to his five IPL titles. This leadership change comes 11 years after Rohit Sharma was elected as his MI captain in 2013.
Mumbai Indians fans were furious over the decision to sack Rohit Sharma and make Hardik Pandya the captain, and the number of the team’s social media accounts dropped significantly. This sudden change caused anger among fans, with many taking to social media to complain.
Mumbai Indians won the IPL for the first time in 2013 under homeboy coach Rohit Sharma. They won the championship four more times in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020. Mumbai Indians, along with Chennai Super Kings (CSK), are the most successful franchise in the IPL, winning his five trophies each.
“This is part of building a legacy and staying true to the philosophy of MI for the future.” From Sachin to Harbhajan to Ricky to Rohit, the Mumbai Indians I have always been blessed with exceptional leadership qualities. Although he contributed to immediate success, he was always looking to strengthen the team for the future. In line with this philosophy, Hardik Pandya will take over the captaincy of Mumbai Indians for the 2024 IPL season,” Mahela Jayawardene said in a statement.
Rohit Sharma is also the all-time leading run-scorer for Mumbai Indians. He scored 5,314 runs at an average of 29.52, a strike rate of 129.76, and a total of 135 in 203 of his innings.
Hardik Pandya, on the other hand, made his debut for MI in the 2015 edition under the direction of Rohit Sharma. He quickly joined the Indian team due to his explosive performance with the bat and ability to bowl accurately at fast to medium speeds. As the years went by, he grew more confident and eventually became a winner at both Michigan State and India.
The 30-year-old was named the captain of Gujarat Titans ahead of IPL 2022, winning the championship in his first season with the team and leading them to the finals in his second season. , retired. He will return to the Indians in Mumbai for the 2024 season. He has been impressive for India with both bat and ball and could be a potential leader for India in the white-ball format of the game.
