- Rohit Sharma has been removed as Mumbai Indians’ captain ahead of IPL 2024.
- Mumbai won five IPL titles under the leadership of Rohit.
In a surprising move that sent shockwaves through the cricketing community, Mumbai Indians (MI) announced the appointment of Hardik Pandya as their captain for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season, replacing the long-serving skipper Rohit Sharma. The decision was made public on Friday, marking a significant leadership transition for the defending champions.
Rohit Sharma’s legacy as captain
Rohit, one of the most successful captain in IPL history, led the Mumbai Indians to five title victories in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020. His tenure as captain has been synonymous with success and consistency and he is also the current skipper of Team India so making the leadership change all of a sudden has expectedly so surprised the fans.
Hardik Pandya’s return in mega transfer deal
Notably, Mumbai Indians orchestrated a major move ahead of the IPL 2024 mini auction by bringing back star all-rounder Hardik in a mega transfer deal worth INR 15 crore from the Gujarat Titans (GT). Pandya had previously spent seven seasons with Mumbai Indians, contributing significantly to their four title wins.
Also Read: Rohit Sharma: Captaincy royalty and mastermind behind Mumbai Indians’ phoenix-like rise in IPL
In an official statement, Mumbai Indians acknowledged the significance of the leadership transition, stating, “Renowned all-rounder Hardik Pandya is set to take the helm as the captain of the Mumbai Indians, succeeding its longest-serving, one of the most successful and loved captains, the illustrious Rohit Sharma.”
Fan outrage on social media
The decision to replace Rohit with Hardik as captain did not sit well with many Mumbai Indians fans, who expressed their disappointment and anger on social media platforms. However, one fan took his displeasure to an extreme by burning a Mumbai Indians jersey in protest against the leadership change.
A video capturing the fan burning the Mumbai Indians’ jersey has gone viral on the internet, intensifying the controversy surrounding the captaincy change. The fan’s extreme reaction highlights the emotional attachment that supporters often develop with their favourite teams and players.