(Image Source: PTI)
[Saba Sports News] Rohit Sharma’s departure from the captaincy of Mumbai Indians signifies the end of a significant chapter in Indian Premier League (IPL) history. As the IPL’s most successful player, Rohit led the Mumbai Indians to five titles in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020. With this era coming to a close, Mumbai Indians have appointed all-rounder Hardik Pandya as their new captain for the 2024 season.
Hardik, who served as Rohit’s deputy at the 2023 World Cup for Team India, rejoined Mumbai Indians from Gujarat Titans (GT) through an all-cash deal before the mini-auction in Dubai. He played a crucial role in leading GT to their debut season title and reached the final against Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings (CSK) last season. Pandya reportedly agreed to return to MI with the condition of captaining the team.
Rohit Sharma, alongside MS Dhoni, is the most successful captain in IPL history. Even as Dhoni stepped down from international captaincy, he continued leading CSK, while Rohit, who turned 36 in April, led India to the ODI World Cup 2023 final. Known as the Hitman, Rohit also helped India reach the T20 World Cup semi-finals last year.
Entering the latter stages of his career, Rohit last appeared in a T20I at the World Cup 2022 in Australia, averaging 19.33. Post the 2023 World Cup, questions remain about his T20I future, though he will lead India in the upcoming South Africa Test series. There’s speculation that Rohit might have played his last T20I.
In Rohit’s IPL absence, Pandya has led India in T20Is and is considered a leading candidate to succeed Rohit as India’s white-ball captain. Mumbai Indians investing heavily in Pandya reflects this sentiment, aiming for a smooth leadership transition.
Rohit, one of T20 cricket’s top run-scorers, had his worst IPL season in 2022, failing to score a half-century and averaging just 19.14. MI finished last in the 2022 season, while GT, under Pandya’s captaincy, topped the table. In the 2023 season, despite Mumbai Indians reaching the playoffs, Rohit scored 332 runs in 16 games, trailing behind other MI batsmen.
Rohit’s captaincy record with Mumbai Indians is notable, with 87 wins in 158 matches. He aims to return to form by focusing solely on batting in the upcoming T20 World Cup year. A successful season with MI could bolster his position as a captain at the national level.