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[Saba Sports News] Following Hardik Pandya’s return to the Mumbai Indians and his appointment as captain over Rohit Sharma before the IPL 2024 auction, Rohit’s supporters have collectively expressed their disapproval. A notable incident involved the removal of a poster featuring Hardik at a Mumbai college, prompted by protests from Rohit’s fans.
Hardik, who was acquired from the Gujarat Titans by the five-time IPL champions, has been designated the new captain, taking over from Rohit Sharma. This move has upset Rohit’s fanbase, considering his pivotal role in securing five IPL titles for Mumbai and his leadership across all formats for the Indian national team.
During an event at Mukesh Patel College in Mumbai, where Hardik was featured on a large poster as the captain of the Mumbai Indians, students and avid supporters of Rohit forced the college authorities to take down the poster, showcasing their discontent with Hardik’s presence and role.
This incident is part of a broader wave of protests by Rohit’s loyalists, who have been vocal on social media and in public demonstrations, calling for his reinstatement as Mumbai’s captain.
Hardik’s return to Mumbai follows his tenure with the Gujarat Titans, where he led the team to victory in their inaugural season in 2022 and to a second-place finish in the following season.
Despite an ankle injury sidelining him from international cricket since the ODI World Cup 2023, Hardik recently made a comeback in the DY Patil T20 Cup, where he performed notably for Reliance 1 against Bharat Petroleum Corporation.