Franchise says leadership switch part of future planning; all eyes now on former captain's next move
MUMBAI: In a sensational but not unexpected development, Mumbai Indians on Friday announced that they had replaced their hugely successful captain Rohit Sharma — under whom they have won all five of their IPL trophies — with allrounder Hardik Pandya.
MI’s move comes less than a month after the Mumbai franchise announced that Hardik had returned to their fold following a high-profile trade from Gujarat Titans. Crucially, the move comes at a time when there is much speculation over who will lead Team India in the T20 World Cup in June in the West Indies and USA — Rohit or Hardik, who is currently out of action due to a left ankle injury.
In January this year, Hardik was named India’s T20 captain after he proved his leadership credentials in the IPL, having led the Gujarat Titans to the title in their maiden season. Under Hardik, GT also made the IPL final this season.
Interestingly, Rohit’s IPL form has declined substantially in recent years. In 2021, he scored 381 runs 13 matches @ 29.30, with just one fifty. In 2022, it was even worse with 268 runs in 14 matches @ 19.14, with no fifty. In 2023, he scored 332 runs in 16 games @ 20.75, with two fifties. Looking to attack from ball one, he has often lost his wicket to one aggressive shot too many.
While it is expected that Rohit will now play under Pandya in MI, it will not be a surprise if he moves to another franchise later on.
The massive shift in Rohit’s role at MI also raises questions about the 36-year-old’s future in the shortest format. Rohit recently led India to the ODI World Cup final, where India lost to Australia after winning 10 games on the trot. Post the tournament, he has taken a break from the white-ball series in South Africa and will only play in the Tests.
Interestingly, both Rohit and Virat Kohli have not turned up for India in T20Is since the final exit at the World Cup in Australia last year. Quizzed about skipping T20Is by TOI while he was interacting with reporters in August, Rohit had pointed out that even Ravindra Jadeja was not playing in the T20Is against West Indies at that time. “You can’t play everything and be ready for the World Cup. We decided this two years ago. (Ravindra) Jadeja is also not playing T20, you did not ask about him? I understand the focus (on himself and Virat). But Jadeja is also not playing.
“Last year also we did the same thing — the T20 World Cup was there, so we didn’t play One-Day cricket. Now also we are doing the same, the ODI World Cup is there, so we are not playing T20s,” Rohit had said.
Rohit has captained MI for the last decade, from 2013 to 2023. Handed the captaincy of the franchise midway into IPL 2013 by the then MI captain Ricky Ponting, he led MI to their maiden IPL title that season.
MI also clinched the IPL under Rohit’s captaincy in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020, and made it to the playoffs in 2023. Hardik, meanwhile, was an integral part of four MI triumphs between 2015 and 2020.
In a statement, MI said the change in leadership was part of their future planning and thanked Rohit for his exemplary service to the franchise. Explaining Hardik’s appointment, former Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene, MI’s global head of performance, said, “It is part of legacy building and staying true to the MI philosophy of being future-ready. MI have always been blessed with exceptional leadership right from Sachin to Harbhajan and Ricky to Rohit, who while contributing to the immediate success have always had an eye on strengthening the team for the future.
“It is in keeping with this philosophy that Hardik Pandya will assume captaincy of MI for the IPL-2024 season.”
