File image of Mumbai Indians’ captain Rohit Sharma with Gujarat Titans’ captain Hardik Pandya during an IPL 2023 T20 cricket match. (PHOTO: PTI)Mumbai Indians caused a flutter by handing over the reins of captaincy to Hardik Pandya over longtime skipper Rohit Sharma, who has played a part of the franchise’s five Indian Premier League titles.
Hardik spent two years at the IPL newcomers Gujarat Titans, where he led them to the title in the inaugural season before a finals appearance last season around. So it was surprise for everyone when he was traded by the Titans to his original franchise Mumbai Indians.
It was a bigger surprise to see that Mumbai appointed Hardik as captain.
“I’m surprised that MI has moved from Rohit Sharma so early. It happened so quickly, I’m also a little surprised. When they did the trade, it was probably communicated to Hardik that he was going to become the captain. But whether it was communicated to Rohit, I don’t know,” former India and Mumbai cricketer Wasim Jaffer said on ESPNCricinfo.
“There were a couple of guys who were pretty hopeful of becoming the captain. One of them is Suryakumar Yadav, who is captaining the Indian team. He has captained really well. Jasprit Bumrah as well, he captained India in Tests. I hope it has been communicated really well. It was going to happen, but it happening straightaway this season, I am a little surprised,” he added.
As reported by The Indian Express, Rohit was informed by Mumbai Indians at the start of the recently-concluded Cricket World Cup that Hardik would be returning to the fold as a captain of the franchise. The report had said that Pandya had agreed to move on from Gujarat, where he had racked up considerable success and a formidable record in just two seasons, to Mumbai on the condition that he be made the captain of the franchise.
The Mumbai Indians franchise agreed to Hardik’s demand and then made Rohit understand their roadmap. It was learnt that Rohit had given his blessings to the plan.
Gujarat, in turn, have appointed young superstar Shubman Gill as the franchise captain.
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